Thai Agencies Plan Action Over Gt 200: Controversial Bomb Detector

[webfact]

CONTROVERSIAL BOMB DETECTOR

Agencies plan action over GT 200

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An indictment against the UK-based manufacturer of GT200 and Alpha 6 remote substance detectors will be decided on August 24, when 13 government agencies that bought or used the devices are scheduled to meet, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday.

The devices were introduced during the term of Abhisit Vejjajiva's government to detect explosives and drugs, but were found to be completely ineffective. Some loss of life resulted from their false readings.

Agencies found guilty of purchasing the devices with the knowledge they were fraudulent, or through bid-rigging, will be faced with indictment in a separate process under the jurisdiction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said DSI director-general Tharit Phengdit.

About 60 days remain under the statute of limitations for Thai authorities to take criminal action against UK-based Global Technical Ltd and its suppliers or sales representatives, he said.

Under DSI guidance, the 13 agencies that used the devices had agreed initially to reach a conclusion in ways supportive of each other.

Citing a DSI investigation into the matter, Tharit said the manufacturer had planned its fraudulent scheme from the beginning, starting from production, marketing, and fabrication of specifications, as there was no other merchandise that could be used by buyers as a reference.

"It's no surprise that government agencies in Thailand were duped into buying the GT200 and Alpha 6, as those in more than 20 countries also fell victim to the manufacturer," he said.

The 13 agencies include the Department of Local Administration, the Customs Department, Provincial Administrative Organisations and police in certain provinces, and the Army Ordnance Department. Evidence and scientific verification against the manufacturer's claims of proficiency of the devices is being provided by the National Science and Technology Development Agency and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre.

-- The Nation 2012-08-15

[Reasonableman]

Still _planning_?

BTW, weren't the first of these detectors bought in 2004?

Edited August 14, 2012 by Reasonableman

[Reasonableman]

Wiki:

The GT200 is used extensively in Thailand.[25] Reportedly, some 818 GT200 units were procured by Thai public bodies since 2004. These include 535 bought by the Royal Thai Army for use combating the South Thailand insurgency and another 222 for use in other areas, 50 purchased by the Royal Thai Police for use in Police Region 4 (Khon Kaen), 6 bought by the Central Institute of Forensic Science, 6 by the Customs Department, 4 by the Royal Thai Air Force and 1 by Chai Nat police.[26] Other agencies such as the Border Patrol Police Bureau and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board use a similar device, the Alpha 6, procured from another company.[25] According to the Bangkok Post, the Royal Thai Air Force first procured the GT200 to detect explosives and drugs at airports, followed by the army in 2006.[27] According to Lt Gen Daopong Rattansuwan, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army, each GT200 bought by the army cost 900,000 baht (£17,000/$27,000), rising to 1.2 million baht (£22,000/$36,000) if 21 "sensor cards" were included with it.[25] In total, Thailand's government and security forces have spent between 800-900 million baht ($21 million) on the devices.[7]

[ratcatcher]

There must be some very embarrassed military and police brass after this revelation.

Perhaps someone has a detector that can find lost faces?

[Thai at Heart]

But they work don't they?

why would anyone want their money back after the ringing endorsements from army generals and khunyings? Surely it must be just all a big misunderstanding?

[Ricardo]

Still _planning_?

BTW, weren't the first of these detectors bought in 2004?

There's enough lost-face to go around all those concerned, in this matter, and yes it goes back to the previous governments of the disgraced fugitive former-Pm too.

Time to admit they were all fooled, or worse.

[Thai at Heart]

Fooled is rather generous.

[toybits]

With a success rate of 40 to 50 percent, a coin would perform just as well. Also would cost a lot less. Recently, it was shown that a bus could also do the job. But the cost of the bus makes it prohibitively expensive and also difficult to carry around with a swagger. Thing about these coins is that soldiers already know how to carry them. They are also very portable - unlike those buses. So the country saves tons of money because it would not have to train soldiers on how to use the coin. Furthermore, unlike the GT 200, the coin does not require those smart sensor cards. However, a beer or two might help get the job done.

Edited August 15, 2012 by toybits

[webfact]

DSI: 13 agencies involved in GT200 purchase fooled by manufacturer

BANGKOK, 15 August 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has concluded that the 13 agencies involved in the purchase of the GT200 bomb detectors were deceived by the manufacturer.

DSI Director-General Tarit Pengdith has held a discussion with the 13 state agencies concerning the purchase of the GT200 scam devices, which cost the nation over 600 million baht.

The DSI chief told the 13 agencies to collect documents and come back to meet again on August 24th to file a complaint against the manufacturer of the device.

According to the DSI, the manufacturer which has hoodwinked many other countries into purchasing the devices, telling their clients that theGT200 and Alpha 6 are special devices unmatched in terms of quality by any other product, intentionally plotted the scam to sell the devices to the Thai Army.

Many nations, including Thailand, have fallen victims to the company, believing that the GT200 and Alpha 6 were effective bomb and drug detectors.

-- NNT 2012-08-15

[phiphidon]

DSI: 13 agencies involved in GT200 purchase fooled by manufacturer

BANGKOK, 15 August 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has concluded that the 13 agencies involved in the purchase of the GT200 bomb detectors were deceived by the manufacturer.

DSI Director-General Tarit Pengdith has held a discussion with the 13 state agencies concerning the purchase of the GT200 scam devices, which cost the nation over 600 million baht.

The DSI chief told the 13 agencies to collect documents and come back to meet again on August 24th to file a complaint against the manufacturer of the device.

According to the DSI, the manufacturer which has hoodwinked many other countries into purchasing the devices, telling their clients that theGT200 and Alpha 6 are special devices unmatched in terms of quality by any other product, intentionally plotted the scam to sell the devices to the Thai Army.

Many nations, including Thailand, have fallen victims to the company, believing that the GT200 and Alpha 6 were effective bomb and drug detectors.

-- NNT 2012-08-15

"According to the DSI, the manufacturer which has hoodwinked many other countries into purchasing the devices, telling their clients that theGT200 and Alpha 6 are special devices unmatched in terms of quality by any other product, intentionally plotted the scam to sell the devices to the Thai Army."

Now I wonder why this particular group was targetted. It's not as if they run the country like their own personal fiefdom providing largesse and political backup where it counts all the while benefiting from a huge budget and no questions asked purchasing policy, is it?

[Thai at Heart]

Well if nothing else it shows that Thai bureaucracy is alive and well.

13 agencies. And tip think that to change the constitution takes the blink of an eye but to buy a life saving bit of equipment takes 13.

So all 13 agencies were idiots then. A glittering list of useless people.

[belg]

how many millions they spend again of this piece of plastic ? and to see or say that nobody was interested in examining or even testing these fake detectors before purchase .... reflects thai mentality : mai pen rai, as long as i get my cut, right ?