‘Army chiefs not involved in GT200 purchase’

He said the commission was focusing its probe into whether the GT200 bomb detectors procured were overpriced.

NACC member Withaya Arkompitak said the commission’s probe into the GT200 procurement would be wrapped up soon. The anti-graft agency is complying with the goal of completing investigation into all big cases that captured public attention by September, he said.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had assigned the Anti-Corruption Operation Centre (ACOC) under his ministry to check the procurement procedures of the GT200 and ordered Wissanu to check legality issues over seeking claims.

He said there were two issues surrounding the GT200, the procurement procedure and the claiming of compensation.

He said as secretary-general of the ACOC he had to look into details of the case but he had not received a letter from the Office of the Auditor General yet.

Auditor-General Pisit Leela-vachiropas had earlier told the ACOC and the Office of Money Laundering to sue and seize the assets of the Thailand-based sales agent of the bogus GT200 bomb detector and device.

 Paiboon said according to legal steps, he had to submit the case to the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission first.

He said as one of the countries that is a damaged party, Thailand must be protected by law.

A British court last week ordered that assets worth 7.9 million pounds (Bt375 million) be confiscated from James McCormick and given to governments that bought the faulty device. 

The businessman began serving a 10-year jail term in 2013 for producing the GT200 and the Alpha 6 drug detectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the Office of the Attorney General was expected to represent eight state agencies that bought the GT200 in claiming compensation for the bogus device.

He said the government could not interfere in NACC’s investigation over irregularities in the purchase of the bomb detector.

Wissanu said that even though the NACC had not yet completed its investigation, it would not affect the move to claim compensation. The commission was looking into criminal activities, but seeking compensation is a civil action.

He said the damage incurred from the purchase amounted to between Bt600 million and Bt800 million.

He said the government would decide whether to file a suit seeking compensation through a Thai or British court.

“We have to see legality issues in terms of advantages and disadvantages [over which court to file a suit],’’ he said.

 Wissanu also denied that the government feared the investigation would hit a stumbling block, saying “We must proceed with the investigation. Do not jump to conclusions. Today the NACC is looking at the issues and the government cannot do this.”

Thailand’s Army, police, Central Institute of Forensic Science and Customs Department acquired 1,358 devices for Bt1.13 billion.