Scanner lawsuit is govt's decision: Prayuth

Panya Tiewsangwarn

BANGKOK: -- Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday said it was up to the government to decide whether to sue the supplier of the GT200 bomb scanners, which have proven unreliable in many scientific tests.

"The Fourth Army Region no longer uses the devices," the military leader said.

In 2010, it became big news when the tests showed the GT200 bomb scanners - bought under a huge budget - could not pass the tests.

However, it emerged into the spotlight again after the BBC news reported that the GT200 bomb-scanner manufacturer was arrested and charged with selling deceptive devices.

-- The Nation 2012-07-14

The "other" newspaper reports Prayuth as saying the devices are effective and the Thai Army will continue to use them in the South.

So what exactly did he say and, more importantly, are these useless pieces of fake technology still putting lives at risk?

Patrick

Scammed?

Contact 419 Scammers

I'm sure they passed the most important test - the cheque cleared.

Squiiiiiiiiiiiiirm

Anyone have the BBC link?

According to Khunying Ponthip, it was an excellent scientific machine.

She also use it as evident in court in many of her CSI cases.

Most likely made in Thailand anyhow ..

The "fit for purpose" question is never investigated in Thailand prior to purchase, only the final price after all backhanders have been divvied out..

As for the price of a soldiers life.. not a lot!!

Here's some background material:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT200

Read it all. It's rather frightening stuff on a number of levels.

I a test, down by Thai scientist during Mark govt (by Ministry of Science Khunying something), this devise has been proven to be 20% effective.

I.e. trusting this devise would have save 20 lives out of 100 killed by Muslim terrorist in the south.

I say this is priceless.

There has been no other equipment which can beat this 20% record.

So i say, Thai army should buy more.

"Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has tried to reassure MPs that the GT200 is not like the ADE651: "We use a different brand," he said. "

Pornthip Rojanasunand, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, also defended the use of the GT200 devices, claiming that they were effective when searching for bombs and even nails under water. She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

Edited July 14, 201213 yr by SuneeTH

Anyone have the BBC link?

According to Khunying Ponthip, it was an excellent scientific machine.

She also use it as evident in court in many of her CSI cases.

Link please.

The "other" newspaper reports Prayuth as saying the devices are effective and the Thai Army will continue to use them in the South.

So what exactly did he say and, more importantly, are these useless pieces of fake technology still putting lives at risk?

Patrick

Hopefully as underground water divining rods.

Anyone have the BBC link?

According to Khunying Ponthip, it was an excellent scientific machine.

She also use it as evident in court in many of her CSI cases.

Link please.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18795651

Anyone have the BBC link?

According to Khunying Ponthip, it was an excellent scientific machine.

She also use it as evident in court in many of her CSI cases.

Link please.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18795651

Many thanks, but I wasn't aware that K. Pornthip had used these devices as evidence in court. Can SuneeTH please provide some evidence of this? Thanks again.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday said it was up to the government to decide whether to sue the supplier of the GT200 bomb scanners, which have proven unreliable in many scientific tests.

Unreliable!

The machine a bought to convert lead to gold is also some what unreliable.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday said it was up to the government to decide whether to sue the supplier of the GT200 bomb scanners, which have proven unreliable in many scientific tests.

Unreliable!

The machine a bought to convert lead to gold is also some what unreliable.

You can get them in Jatujak

I a test, down by Thai scientist during Mark govt (by Ministry of Science Khunying something), this devise has been proven to be 20% effective.

I.e. trusting this devise would have save 20 lives out of 100 killed by Muslim terrorist in the south.

I say this is priceless.

There has been no other equipment which can beat this 20% record.

So i say, Thai army should buy more.

"Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has tried to reassure MPs that the GT200 is not like the ADE651: "We use a different brand," he said. "

Pornthip Rojanasunand, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, also defended the use of the GT200 devices, claiming that they were effective when searching for bombs and even nails under water. She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

Wonderful piece of satire

Yeah they had this crap at the check points in Baghdad. Check points are among the most dangerous places when traveling. Most times you must get out of the armored SUV or US Army truck, wait on the side while they wave these things around. No dogs (the tops abhor dogs) or anything. Pretty scary. I think the Iraq Govt spend 60 million USD on them!

I just read about this today. Too funny. How can anyone at this level be so gullible? Another case of scientific ignorance perhaps; policy dictating science and not science dictating policy, as it should be: http://geekmanifesto.wordpress.com/

Not to mention the giant dirigible the Thai army purchased to mount a larger version of the device. Where is that thing, hovering over the aircraft carrier????

Not to mention the giant dirigible the Thai army purchased to mount a larger version of the device. Where is that thing, hovering over the aircraft carrier????

they won't be flying it anywhere near Cambodia

The question is; how many innocent men in the south have been imprisoned and tortured on the results given by the empty black plastic boxes with a 10 baht radio ariel attached............ absolutely disgraceful.

Can someone explain these two statements from Pornthip Rojanasund to me?

" I have never handled the device myself."

" I will continue to use it."

One of the stranger aspects of this case was not that moronic Thai generals spent millions of baht on a useless piece of crap. Am sure they skimmed off their standard 30% , and bought a new Mercedes and hired a new mia noi. That is business as usual. The amazing part is that they were able to suck Dr. Pornthip into this farce.

Here is a woman who arguably had the one of the highest reputations for honesty in Thailand. As the news started coming out about how the GT2000 had no actual performance in detecting anything, and the Thai generals saw themselves going down in flames, they brought in the big gun of honesty, Dr. Pornthip, to try and save themselves. Would be fascinating to know what kind of deal they struck with her......Hope she came out well, because her reputation is now in tatters........

Of course there will be nobody sued. If so it becomes clear who filled his pockets. Even a toddler would be able to tell that a piece of rubbish like this which does not even contain a holder for the card does not work. Worst of all, they did not opened it, because than the warranty would be void.

The public prosecutor in Thailand should send people responsible for the purchase (Thai military) to jail though for endangering the safety of Thai people and falsely imprisoning suspects as well negligence of duty.

One of the stranger aspects of this case was not that moronic Thai generals spent millions of baht on a useless piece of crap. Am sure they skimmed off their standard 30% , and bought a new Mercedes and hired a new mia noi. That is business as usual. The amazing part is that they were able to suck Dr. Pornthip into this farce.

Here is a woman who arguably had the one of the highest reputations for honesty in Thailand. As the news started coming out about how the GT2000 had no actual performance in detecting anything, and the Thai generals saw themselves going down in flames, they brought in the big gun of honesty, Dr. Pornthip, to try and save themselves. Would be fascinating to know what kind of deal they struck with her......Hope she came out well, because her reputation is now in tatters........

Hired help

I a test, down by Thai scientist during Mark govt (by Ministry of Science Khunying something), this devise has been proven to be 20% effective.

I.e. trusting this devise would have save 20 lives out of 100 killed by Muslim terrorist in the south.

I say this is priceless.

There has been no other equipment which can beat this 20% record.

So i say, Thai army should buy more.

"Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has tried to reassure MPs that the GT200 is not like the ADE651: "We use a different brand," he said. "

Pornthip Rojanasunand, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, also defended the use of the GT200 devices, claiming that they were effective when searching for bombs and even nails under water. She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

Wonderful piece of satire

Suthep couldn't read the English lettering on the sides or know that the are the same "machine"..... And Mark did his usual back-pedaling with grace!!!!

Not to mention the giant dirigible the Thai army purchased to mount a larger version of the device. Where is that thing, hovering over the aircraft carrier????

Or converted into a tent in Suthepville...

Not to mention the giant dirigible the Thai army purchased to mount a larger version of the device. Where is that thing, hovering over the aircraft carrier????

And guarding the submarines!!!

Of course there will be nobody sued. If so it becomes clear who filled his pockets. Even a toddler would be able to tell that a piece of rubbish like this which does not even contain a holder for the card does not work. Worst of all, they did not opened it, because than the warranty would be void.

The public prosecutor in Thailand should send people responsible for the purchase (Thai military) to jail though for endangering the safety of Thai people and falsely imprisoning suspects as well negligence of duty.

It's a bit like voting for PTP.

It doesn't do what it says on the tin.