Police cancel contract with PCC
Only 12 per cent of project completed; police spokesman says firm within its legal rights to sue
The Royal Thai Police announced yesterday that it was cancelling the Bt5.848-billion contract it had signed with PCC Development and Construction Co to build 396 police stations nationwide.
Police spokesman Piya Uthayo said the bureau had the right to cancel the contract because the police logistics office and regional committees had reported that the contractor had failed to meet the completion deadline. He said only 12 per cent of the project had been completed over the past 755 days.
Hence, he said, the national police chief had approved the cancellation, effective from today, and the police bureau would notify PCC and other related agencies later.
The police bureau plans to seek Cabinet approval to hire a new contractor for each of the 396 projects so they can start the e-bidding right away. Deputy police chief Worapong Chewpreecha said he had already called a meeting of related officials in relation to the development of the project.
As for the Royal Thai Police’s plan to seek compensation from PCC, Piya said the bureau’s legal team was working on it, adding that PCC was within its legal rights to file a lawsuit against the police bureau as it had threatened earlier. He said the Royal Thai Police was ready for a court battle.
When asked if taking the case to court would affect the construction of police stations, Piya said there should not be a problem because the goal was to build the stations as soon as possible.
Pol Lt-Colonel Santhana Prayoonrat, who works as adviser to PCC executive Pibul Udomsithikul, was also present at the press conference yesterday.
In response to questions, Santhana said PCC did not know former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, former deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban and veteran politician Newin Chidchob and that it was just being dragged through the mud for the sake of politics. Abhisit and Suthep are being investigated for alleged abuse of authority in relation to this project.
Santhana said the PCC had apologised to the public and affected police officers. He said PCC needed to exercise its legal rights as soon as possible.
He added that PCC would try to complete its other contract with the police bureau – the construction of 163 police flats across the nation – which is already 70-80 per cent complete.
