Fake Bomb Detectors: Focus On Thailand's Purchases After U K Ruling

[webfact]

FAKE BOMB DETECTORS
Focus on purchases after UK ruling
Opas Boonlom
The Nation

Officials from 13 govt agencies investigated over procurement

BANGKOK: -- The GT200 "bomb detector" is back under the media spotlight after a British court found wealthy businessman Jim McCormick guilty of three charges of multimillion-pound fraud in relation to three types of fake bomb detectors he sold to state security agencies across the world - including Thailand.

The McCormick trial, which will conclude today, has stirred emotions around the globe because the 57-year-old businessman put thousands of lives in danger including those of people in Niger, Syria, Mexico, Iraq, Kenya, at the Hong Kong prison service, in the Egyptian army, Saudi Arabia and the United Nations, which bought useless bomb detectors from his firms.

In Thailand, the fascination with the GT200 by state security agencies started in 2004 when the Thai Air Force used the device to "detect" suspected items at Bor Thong Airport in Pattani.

The GT200 made its "debut" when all military forces met to showcase their warfare capabilities not long after the airport check.

The Army, which was assigned to dispose of bombs in the three southern border provinces when the insurgency initially gripped the deep south, was in dire need of bomb detectors that could detect explosives from a far range. After learning that the Air Force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit possessed the GT200 detector, initially known as "The Mo", the Army tested the device and bought 541 GT200s in 2008-09 - the largest lot ever bought by Thai security agencies.



Calls for checks on the efficiency of the GT200 started in social networks like pantip.com. Blogger Geneticist from Wah Ko blog room inspired academics to team up and call for an investigation into the bomb detector.

On February 2, 2010, the Abhisit Cabinet appointed a committee to test the efficiency of the GT200. It revealed that out of 20 times, the device correctly detected a C4 bomb four times.

The Department of Special Investigation has looked into the scandal, summoning more than 90 witnesses from 13 Thai agencies that bought the GT200 bomb detector and Alpha 6 narcotics detector. The agency is likely to press charges against Jackson Electronics (Thailand) Co Ltd and ASLM Trading Co Ltd, two trading companies that represented McCormick's company.

The DSI also found that some officials from the 13 state agencies could be held accountable for procurement of the devices.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last July accepted the GT200 case filed by the DSI and appointed a panel to probe the irregularities.

Officials from some agencies such as the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) have been summoned by the NACC to acknowledge charges related to procurement of overpriced equipment. The NACC and DSI may press charges against Level 8-9 officials at other agencies for alleged abuse of authority, for not complying with regulations in state bidding procedures.

In the UK, McCormick pleaded innocent, claiming that his devices "bypass all concealment methods" and find targets through walls, underwater and up to 30 feet (9 metres) underground. But the prosecution said the machines lacked "any grounding in science" and offered no advantage over "random chance".

McCormick could face up to eight years in jail when the court hands down its verdict tomorrow. He has been granted bail to allow him to get his affairs in order.


-- The Nation 2013-05-02

[lemonjelly]

"After learning that the Air Force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit
possessed the GT200 detector, initially known as "The Mo", the Army
tested the device and bought 541 GT200s in 2008-09 - the largest lot
ever bought by Thai security agencies."

[arthurboy]

Nice infographic.

The DSI also found that some officials from the 13 state agencies could be held accountable for procurement of the devices.

Could be?

If not these fine upstanding individuals, I suggest the NACC and the DSI start taking a long hard look at the maids and drivers.

Edited May 2, 2013 by arthurboy

[tomyummer]

The same product as covered by CNN? The ADE 651?

Some military officials got darn rich from this guy.

[Card]

"McCormick pleaded innocent, claiming that his devices "bypass all concealment methods""

For concealment methods read bribes.

[tragickingdom]

My dog could be fooled my four year old wouldn't be fooled either. The only ones who are fooled is the Thai tax payer and all the people killed by the Muslim terrorists in the South. They are fooled by the likes of Anupong and Prayuth. Only a very naive person believes the people involved in the purchase were not bribed and thus banned any technician from opening a "golf ball" scanner for a check because it would void the warrantee.

Only a 1st grader would believe that credit cards without a chip that are not paced in a holder that connects to a conductor on the card would be able to anything let alone see anything from Human Beings, Tusks to Bombs. It is no surprise that the "fooled" customers are all made up of very corrupt officials. The Pakistani army, the Afghan Army, corrupt African UN buyers and of course the Thai and the Sri Lankan army. if the Nation does not see parallels and are in bed with army crooks they should simply not write anything about it

[tragickingdom]

"After learning that the Air Force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit

possessed the GT200 detector, initially known as "The Mo", the Army

tested the device and bought 541 GT200s in 2008-09 - the largest lot

ever bought by Thai security agencies."

So if the Pakistani people in charge of the purchase received anything from 6 to 10K Sterling per device (let's not forget there were two devices, the original cheap golf ball scanner that this chap purchased for a few pounds and sold it for maximum a few thousand to the last one that went for prices up to 45k Pound) it is safe to assume that up to 20% went in to the pockets of corrupt officials.

It shows also why the army is impotent and can't win in the South. Either they are driven by greed or by utmost stupidity. Wouldn't you open a box, wouldn't you at least not examine the credit card sized cards if their was a way to program them? They were holding RF tags no programmable chips.

[robertson468]

And not that long ago Gen Prayuth said the Bomb Detectors work well and do not need to be investigated. That statement alone needs to be investigated.

[vanillalatte]

The same product as covered by CNN? The ADE 651?

Some military officials got darn rich from this guy.

Interesting thing - Thailand is not mentioned at all in CNN report;only Iraq.

I think,that all this story is obvious failure of all 3 letters agences,which are supposed to know everything?

You think,that they were not aware of that scam?

He is one of them!

Good question: he was working for who?

[webfact]

RT @BBCBreaking: Millionaire businessman James McCormick, who sold fake bomb detectors to Iraq, is sentenced to 10 years in jail in UK

[JetsetBkk]

RT @BBCBreaking: Millionaire businessman James McCormick, who sold fake bomb detectors to Iraq, is sentenced to 10 years in jail in UK

Not long enough. How many people died because of this POS?

[roamer]

RT @BBCBreaking: Millionaire businessman James McCormick, who sold fake bomb detectors to Iraq, is sentenced to 10 years in jail in UK

5 years with parole.

[Thai at Heart]

Nice to see that Pornthip bought the second most expensive version.

This obviously came with a free 3 pack of Pro V1s for testing.

[belg]

it is shocking that is was sold to so many countries and not 1 engineer that opening that damn expensive little useless box

[Locationthailand]

So the test results showed 4 in 20. And they bought them on that basis? Damn, someone got a huge kickback so why isn't DSI all over this?

[zappalot]

So the test results showed 4 in 20. And they bought them on that basis? Damn, someone got a huge kickback so why isn't DSI all over this?

Because the DSI is busy finding these farang who are stealing jobs from Thais... One has to set priorities...

[Longtooth]

It was instantly and always my feeling that this device was merely a way to "find" something that you had already been tipped off about, concerning it's location. It was a way to cover up or protect informants from retribution from the "bad guys" whom the "detector" was acting against. The "bad guys" would be less likely to be looking for informants, and just blaming their bad luck on the efficiency of this splendid detector. Not a bomb detector, but an informant protector. It might even actually deter "bad guys". They might be thinking, "Could this thing actually WORK?!"