More evidence found in bomb scanner case

ATAPOOM ONGKULNA

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday postponed its decision on the CTX bomb scanner scandal until next Tuesday, saying it had found new evidence of high-ranking Thai government officials being involved.

NACC member Vichai Vivitsevi said the agency unanimously agreed on the delay as more documents had been received from US prosecutors and justice agencies that needed to be translated. These included receipts and evidence of the procurement. They will be brought for consideration next time.

The NACC will decide next week and this is expected to take only two hours then, he said.

Vichai said the NACC found new information in the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee's inquiry report that it had never looked into. That was evidence that persuaded it to believe seven or more high-ranking government officials were involved with the CTX sales representatives. It has yet to be probed whether more officials from Suvarnabhumi Airport or politicians were involved.

The CTX-9000 bomb scanners were purchased by the Thaksin Shinawatra government while Yongyuth Tiyapairat was transport minister.

The case was transferred to the NACC after the term of the AEC, which was established by the 2006 coup-makers, ended in 2008.

"The important evidence was already in the old reports. There was very little evidence that came later and was sent in an irrelevant manner," Vichai said. "But the new-found evidence was not highlighted by the AEC, because it came up after the agency's term had ended. So the NACC has to investigate this itself.

"However, we cannot say anything at the moment, as we need clear evidence before accusing anyone. According to our new regulations, we have to specify the name of a person and his or her behaviour before we put the charge."

Asked whether the further investigation would only look into government officials and if politicians had been cut out of the probe, Vichai said politicians would not just get away. However, NACC members had different ways of judging such matters and needed to consider the evidence.

If the NACC has clear evidence, it could submit the case to court directly, Vichai said, adding that the commission would not be vulnerable to outside influence.

Only seven of the NACC's nine members joined the meeting yesterday, as Medhi Krongkaew has retired, having turned 70 this month. Klanarong Chantik withdrew from the meeting, as he was also a member of the AEC.

Vichai and Medhi, who led the NACC panel investigating the case, told the media previously that the anti-graft agency would consider the case independently. The decision by American prosecutors not to submit the case against InVision, the manufacturer, to a US court would not have any impact as Thailand and the United States use different laws.

The Office of the Attorney-General decided to drop the case, saying the CTX matter lacked grounds, even though the AEC cited evidence to show that InVision was fined US$500,000 (Bt15.7 million) by the US Justice Ministry for possible improper payments related to foreign sales.

InVision conceded to US prosecutors that it had bribed officials in three countries including Thailand. However, no evidence of bribery in Thailand was found during the US investigation.

In 2005, the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission investigated "foreign corrupt practices" by InVision with the alleged involvement of Thai officials.

US authorities reported at the time that Thai officials or politicians might have received more than $10 million in bribes after purchasing the US-made bomb-detectors for the new airport.

-- The Nation 2012-08-22

Time to ramp-up production of inactive-jobs for-the-old-boys ?

InVision conceded to US prosecutors that it had bribed officials in three countries including Thailand. However, no evidence of bribery in Thailand was found during the US investigation.

No bribery here, all is squeaky clean in the kingdom, I'm sure the DSI will confirm that.

InVision conceded to US prosecutors that it had bribed officials in three countries including Thailand. However, no evidence of bribery in Thailand was found during the US investigation.

No bribery here, all is squeaky clean in the kingdom, I'm sure the DSI will confirm that.

Unbelievable.

Is the Yongyuth the silver top again?

Or Yingyuth the slayer if fridges again?

I can see that it's Thaksin. Again

Did Dubai buy any?

InVision conceded to US prosecutors that it had bribed officials in three countries including Thailand. However, no evidence of bribery in Thailand was found during the US investigation.

No bribery here, all is squeaky clean in the kingdom, I'm sure the DSI will confirm that.

Unbelievable.

Which all rather suggests that bribery did take place and at the very highest level.

Saddest thing is all those millions of dollars that went into the pockets of corrupt officials who would have already been rich.

That money could have been spent improving roads, hospitals, schools, and helping the poor. But no, empty plastic dummy detectors seemed more worthwhile to make money from. What an insult to humanity.

Why do good people who genuinely care for society rarely become politicians? Maybe because they lack the rotten and selfish nature that is required to get to the top of the ladder.

Edited August 22, 201214 yr by Chads

InVision conceded to US prosecutors that it had bribed officials in three countries including Thailand. However, no evidence of bribery in Thailand was found during the US investigation.

No bribery here, all is squeaky clean in the kingdom, I'm sure the DSI will confirm that.

Unbelievable.

Everything is OK.

"Only seven of the NACC's nine members joined the meeting yesterday, as Medhi Krongkaew has retired, having turned 70 this month. Klanarong Chantik withdrew from the meeting, as he was also a member of the AEC...

Just wait a few years more and there will be none left in the room.

Time to claim the case is closed and everyone happy.

Why do good people who genuinely care for society rarely become politicians? Maybe because they lack the rotten and selfish nature that is required to get to the top of the ladder.

Probably that just the unbearable smell keeps them away.

I thought the bomb scanner cases were virtually empty. Next thing they'll tell us they work.

The CTX-9000 bomb scanners were purchased by the Thaksin Shinawatra government

while Yongyuth Tiyapairat was transport minister.

So it is not in the NACC's interests to prosecute because their budget

will be slashed by The Kuhn T's minions at the controls for the moment.

This is about the airport scanners not the fake bomb detectors.

I thought the bomb scanner cases were virtually empty. Next thing they'll tell us they work.

They do work a certain percentage of the time. they are not totally unreliable.

This is about the airport scanners not the fake bomb detectors.

Thank you for clarifying that. I did mix the two up, but I think my comment can apply to both cases.

biggest surprise, ever.

I thought the bomb scanner cases were virtually empty. Next thing they'll tell us they work.

The army is still using them, their reasoning is that even if they only work 20% of the time they are saving lives. Tossing a coin would work nearly 50% of the time. I'll give them the idea for free, they can scrap the detectors and issue soldiers 10 baht coins.

I thought the bomb scanner cases were virtually empty. Next thing they'll tell us they work.

They do work a certain percentage of the time. they are not totally unreliable.

They are far less reliable than a German octopus

Evidence of High Ranking Officials Involved Found in Bomb Scanner Case!!!! Why thats Impossible! BALDERDASH!

InVision conceded to US prosecutors that it had bribed officials in three countries including Thailand. However, no evidence of bribery in Thailand was found during the US investigation.

No bribery here, all is squeaky clean in the kingdom, I'm sure the DSI will confirm that.

Unbelievable.

Which all rather suggests that bribery did take place and at the very highest level.

Suvarnabhumi was a big project, very Hi-so´s from the former Government must have been involved. IMO

With this govt in power what are the chances of getting to the bottom of this. They've had 6 years to lose the evidence.

With this govt in power what are the chances of getting to the bottom of this. They've had 6 years to lose the evidence.

I don't think that they are that good at losing anything.

Sorry, I'm still perplexed at new evidence being sent in an "irrelevent manner".

Anybody understand what was meant by this?

Possibly that it was put in an old shoe box and left on the steps of government house, delivered by a tribe of Bantu warriors, or maybe gypsy dancers delivered it while Flamenco dancing through the Hall of Justice?

The Nation has an eclectic bunch of translators.