A private firm which won a controversial aircraft procurement project from a government agency has been linked to the Bhumjaithai Party, according to an informed source. Forth Vending Co. secured a contract from the Department of Royal Rainmaking & Agricultural Aviation to procure two Let L-410 NG transport aircraft at a combined cost of 1.18 billion baht.
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The company is reportedly owned largely by Pongchai Amatanon, who was alleged to have covert links with Bhumjaithai, the core party in the current coalition government led behind the scenes by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob. Pongchai previously served on the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation board during the tenure of Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul as public health minister and on the Thai Airways International board during the time Saksayam Chidchob served as transport minister and Bhumjaithai secretary-general.
The procurement project has drawn scrutiny over claims the aircraft were purchased at inflated prices. The Czech-built Let L-410 NG aircraft were reportedly priced at around 590 million baht each, compared with the manufacturer’s average price of about 227 million baht per unit.
Forth Vending Co. is also known as the owner of Tao Bin beverage vending machines. Allegations surrounding the e-bidding process and the unusually high procurement costs reportedly contributed to the resignation of former department director-general Rachen Silparaya after his transfer from the agency under the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives.
Another procurement project under the same department has also come under scrutiny. M-Landarch Co. won a contract to supply two Cessna C408 SkyCourier transport aircraft at a combined cost of 1.31 billion baht. The aircraft were reportedly priced at about 655 million baht each, compared with the manufacturer’s average price of around 178 million baht per unit.
The ThaiNewsRoom reported that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been formally petitioned to investigate the procurement deals involving both aircraft projects. The allegations focus on whether the purchases were conducted transparently and whether the pricing represented value for public funds.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thainewsroom 8 May 2026