PM Prayut: Thailand will request for compensation from the GT200 case

[webfact]

PM: Thailand will request for compensation from the GT200 case



BANGKOK, 21 June 2016, (NNT) - The Prime Minister affirmed that Thailand will claim compensation from the procurement of the faulty GT200 bomb detectors.

The statement was made after a UK court on June 15 ordered James McCormick, who sold the faulty devices, to forfeit 7.94 million pounds or nearly 411 million baht's worth of assets to his customers. The court also sentenced McCormick to a 10-year jail term.

Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha said a decision will be made to determine whether Thailand will make an explicit request for compensation. He added that it will not be necessary to reopen the investigation into the procurement of the bomb detectors. The Prime Minister argued that the British court has already ordered compensation to be paid to affected countries, including Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan disclosed that Thailand had already discarded the GT200 detectors. He said the government would provide the procurement details, if requested by the Office of the Auditor General. Regarding the procurement of bomb detectors, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the relevant officials had strictly followed the rules and regulations of the Prime Minister's Office.

-- NNT 2016-06-21

[worgeordie]

" Thailand had already discarded the GT200 detectors.", maybe they should have

kept a few back,and hung them on the walls of every General's office,just to remind

them how easily they were duped,is the Blimp still flying,you could go on and on.

regards Worgeordie

[jamesbrock]

He added that it will not be necessary to reopen the investigation into the procurement of the bomb detectors.

Or course it won't...

The fact that morons in 13 Thai government agencies were duped into handing over hundreds of millions of baht for these useless empty plastic cases, though completely unsurprising, should be a national shame.

On another note, I wish they would stop using the term "faulty." The devices were not faulty, they never worked in the first place.

When the device's case was dismantled on BBC Newsnight in 2010, it was found to contain no electronic components whatsoever. Explosives expert Sidney Alford told Newsnight: "Speaking as a professional, I would say that is an empty plastic case." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8478857.stm

This clip from Nation Channel (https://youtu.be/wAldoWTEb5c) shows an interview with Lt Col Somchai Chalermsuksan of the Thai Central Institute of Forensic Science. In the clip host of the show comments that "there is no battery here or way of powering it" and that the bottom half of the device was completely empty. Asked if there was anything in the sealed top half of the device, Lt Col Somchai said: "There is nothing. Once there was an accident and the device came apart. There was nothing inside." The host asks, "So it is just two pieces of plastic put together?"

Newsnight also found that the "sensor card" consisted only of two sheets of card between which was sandwiched a sheet of paper, white on one side and black on the other, that had been cut off from a larger sheet with a knife or scissors. It too contained no electronic components whatsoever.

So, no, they weren't "faulty." The manufacturer knew they didn't do anything whatsoever, let alone detect explosives, so the fact that he sold them to the Thai government as explosives detectors does in no way mean they were "faulty" because they didn't detect explosives.

Edit: wrong link to the BBC program

Edited June 21, 2016 by jamesbrock

[rkidlad]

Compensation really is a bonus. Skim a load of cash from buying these things and now hopefully get compensation. Win - win.

Except for honest people who pay their taxes. You lose. But who cares about you.

[WhizBang]

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan ... ... stressed that the relevant officials had strictly followed the rules and regulations of the Prime Minister's Office.

So, some THAI 'middlemen' overcharging the government by ONE BILLION baht is 'strictly following the rules and regulations of the Prime Minister's Office'?

Someone should teach these fools, that sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut.

[Snig27]

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan ... ... stressed that the relevant officials had strictly followed the rules and regulations of the Prime Minister's Office.

So, some THAI 'middlemen' overcharging the government by ONE BILLION baht is 'strictly following the rules and regulations of the Prime Minister's Office'?

Someone should teach these fools, that sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut.

The problem is that these crafty, stealing "middlemen" are not a million kms away from those with the wheels of power right now. No investigation is therefore desired.

[chainarong]

This in itself is very serious case, personal could have been seriously injured or killed , it is a blight on the Thai military's record and leadership that they didn't even evaluate the GT200, the people responsible for procurement should be taken to task, senior military figures who signed off on this buying spree should all have those wings clipped including the former defence Minister, a dereliction of duty if ever there was one by all concerned ......................................... .

[shirtless]

Where was the testing done,Soi cowboy,

[Hawk]

Where was the testing done,Soi cowboy,

How did you know that as it was meant to be a secret.

[EyesWideOpen]

Just amazing that this dog has been woken up.....

This case is a serious blight upon the IQ of the

military leadership. I would have thought that they

would have wanted this wound to heal up and be

forgotten. But apparently the thought of receiving

compensation from Britain has brought out a bit

of greed, so time to reopen this case. I am sure

that Porntip is having some sleepless nights now.

[clockman]

A Brit, and the long con.

[clockman]

It was also sold to another 23 countries around the world. And you know the saying. You cannot con an honest man?

[Ceruhe]

The court also sentenced McCormick to a 10-year jail term.

There you go Thailand, he even got punished for his wrong doing. If only you could follow suit by 10....5%!

Now, if Britain could very please "Mai pen rai ka" about the compensation, then we are set for fun

[Ricardo]

The government are reported to also be trying to now recover some of the commissions/mark-ups, which were added to the basic cost of these plastic devices, en route to the police & RTA/RTAF & Customs.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Move-to-seize-assets-of-Thai-agent-for-GT200-30288665.html

Quite right too !

[snoop1130]

Gen Anupong is ready to cooperate in a probe on GT200 “bogus” bomb detectors deal

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said today that he is ready to cooperate with the Office of the Auditor-General, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Government’s Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the army’s procurement of GT200 “bogus” bomb detectors several years ago to determine whether the procurement was transparent or not.

However, the minister who was the army chief when the army made the procurement for the UK-made bomb detectors worth more than 300 million baht said that compensation should be claimed from the seller too.

He went on saying that the probe should also try to find out whether the seller knew the detectors did not work and intended to fool the buyers and whether any officials acted in collusion with the seller to fool the army into buying the “bogus” detectors.

Earlier, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha ruled out a probe into the GT200 scandal, claiming that the devices had been dumped long time ago and several countries, including Thailand, were duped to buy the devices.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gen-anupong-ready-cooperate-probe-gt200-bogus-bomb-detectors-deal/

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-21

[phoenixdoglover]

I think the government of Thailand will find the UK will not compensate them unless they provide very specific details regarding the purchases by Thailand. Certainly, if the UK gets a whiff of corruption (heaven forbid), they might ask for even more information.

That money comes with strings attached.

Break out the popcorn.

[Winniedapu]

Gen Anupong is ready to cooperate in a probe on GT200 “bogus” bomb detectors deal

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said today that he is ready to cooperate with the Office of the Auditor-General, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Government’s Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the army’s procurement of GT200 “bogus” bomb detectors several years ago to determine whether the procurement was transparent or not.

However, the minister who was the army chief when the army made the procurement for the UK-made bomb detectors worth more than 300 million baht said that compensation should be claimed from the seller too.

He went on saying that the probe should also try to find out whether the seller knew the detectors did not work and intended to fool the buyers and whether any officials acted in collusion with the seller to fool the army into buying the “bogus” detectors.

Earlier, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha ruled out a probe into the GT200 scandal, claiming that the devices had been dumped long time ago and several countries, including Thailand, were duped to buy the devices.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gen-anupong-ready-cooperate-probe-gt200-bogus-bomb-detectors-deal/

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-21

Getting his retaliation in first, he knows the whole bucket of sh|t is going to land on his desk. So he's trying to take the position of an honest man, surpised and shocked at how things turned out.

Not how Thailand works, he got his little brown envelopes, his bank statements make that clear.

But... it's really nice that this is all gaining its own momentum.

As PDL says; break out the popcorn... it's going to be a rough ride - for them, in the lead-in to a referendum when they are asking the Thai people to trust them...

See the look on the girl's face to his right? Pretty much sums up how I feel and how we should all feel about this man. And his corrupt mates.

Winnie

Edited June 21, 2016 by Winniedapu

[jamesbrock]

Gen Anupong is ready to cooperate in a probe on GT200 “bogus” bomb detectors deal

Yes, "bogus" is a more apt term than "faulty."

This in itself is very serious case, personal could have been seriously injured or killed , it is a blight on the Thai military's record and leadership that they didn't even evaluate the GT200, the people responsible for procurement should be taken to task, senior military figures who signed off on this buying spree should all have those wings clipped including the former defence Minister, a dereliction of duty if ever there was one by all concerned ......................................... .

Indeed, purchase of these bogus devices by these imbeciles resulted in a series of clusterfunks - the Wiki article on the GT200 references dozens of stories that cannot be linked to on this forum, so I will just quote the Wiki article itself:

• Three members of a border patrol police unit were killed on 7 November 2008 in Panare District when the GT200 they were using failed to detect a bomb planted on a road.
• In the Mueang Yala District of Yala Province, security forces used a GT200 to investigate the scene of the murder of two officials, but were unable to detect a follow-up boobytrap bomb, which exploded just after they had declared the area to be clear of bombs.
• Numerous people were killed and injured in two bomb attacks in October 2009 in which the GT200 was used by security forces.
• On 6 October 2009, a car bomb exploded opposite the Merlin Hotel in Su-ngai Kolok, killing one person and injuring 20, after it had been "scanned" using a GT200 and declared to be free of explosives.
• A motorcycle bomb exploded on 19 October in Yala, injuring another 26 people, again after a scan with a GT200 had returned negative results for explosives.

False positives have also been reported, with civilians being arrested after a GT200 "detected" traces of explosives on them. Similar erroneous readings were reported to have caused "pandemonium" at Pattani Hospital. On one occasion the device was reported to have "incriminated the top of a coconut tree", though it was said the alert turned out to have been triggered by a plastic bag with vegetable oil inside. Thai journalist Charoon Thongnual reported personally experiencing the GT200 showing false positives:

A device used by a defence volunteer pointed repeatedly to a motorcycle parked in front of the Pattani Provincial Court. However, a search of the motorbike discovered nothing illegal. In another incident, a device pointed at a handbag carried by a female college student in Pattani who was strolling with friends near the CS Hotel. A search of her bag found cosmetics and other items that were completely lawful.

Hundreds of people are said to have been detained by Thai security forces on the basis of GT200 readings. According to Human Rights Watch, about 10 percent of those detained on suspicion of involvement in the insurgency have been arrested on this basis. In one village in Narathiwat Province, 32 people were arrested after GT200s were used to "detect" traces of explosive substances on their bodies. Most of them were detained without charge for an extended period. Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch commented: "It is common during security sweeps in the south to see Muslim men lined up on the roadside with their shirts off while being screened by a GT200. Many of those implicated by the GT200 have been arrested and then tortured."

Anybody involved in the purchase of these devices should be thoroughly investigated for fraud, as well as retrospectively sacked from their positions (and having to pay back their undeserved salary since they signed off on the purchases.

Edited June 21, 2016 by jamesbrock

[tx22cb]

What'sthe PM worried about?

Just decree another blanket amnesty for all.

[Winniedapu]

I am personally delighted all this is in the fan again. It couldn't happen to more deserving people, rock on.

I expect Prayuth will be bl;aming black magic for his bad luck right now. I have a vision of him off to see his astrologer.

Good luck with that buddy, you in da sh|t.

Winnie

[robblok]

@jamesbrock

Your right but the Brit should be tried for murder too because he was selling something he knew did not work endangering innocent people. This guy is even worse than the people buying it.

The guy KNEW he was selling fakes, at least the army could think they worked and would only be guilty for of corruption. I wonder how many people died because of the criminal selling the stuff.

[aussieinthailand]

@jamesbrock

Your right but the Brit should be tried for murder too because he was selling something he knew did not work endangering innocent people. This guy is even worse than the people buying it.

The guy KNEW he was selling fakes, at least the army could think they worked and would only be guilty for of corruption. I wonder how many people died because of the criminal selling the stuff.

Your almost there mate,

Yes the man from England is now in gaol, and should also have murder added to the charges that's fair.

Now who in LOS was responsible for testing the empty plastic boxes?

Who advised they should be purchased?

Who singed off on the purchase?

Who was involved in the settling on the amount paid?

Is there corruption? or at the very least is there dereliction of duty?

An the junta say's they are transparent and fight corruption and used this as a ticket to take the government from the people...

how's the referendum looking Somchai? oh really like that huh? ok ok put a press statement we have 99.7% approval, the buffaloes swallowed it last time and even a few stupid falangs hehehehe...

Transparent independent Investigation? Not a cinders chance in a snow storm. C'mon fan boys where are you??? hiding again when it's glaringly obvious

[jamesbrock]

I am personally delighted all this is in the fan again. It couldn't happen to more deserving people, rock on.

I expect Prayuth will be bl;aming black magic for his bad luck right now. I have a vision of him off to see his astrologer.

Good luck with that buddy, you in da sh|t.

Winnie

Blaming black magic? Why not? After all, that's pretty much how the GT200's were supposed to work in the first place!

The sales blurb states that the device has an "Unlimited Power source" as it is powered by the user's static electricity, and uses "DIA/PARA magnetism" as its detection method...

https://web.archive.org/web/20090727110534/http://www.e-k9.net:80/gt200main.php

@jamesbrock

Your right but the Brit should be tried for murder too because he was selling something he knew did not work endangering innocent people. This guy is even worse than the people buying it.

The guy KNEW he was selling fakes, at least the army could think they worked and would only be guilty for of corruption. I wonder how many people died because of the criminal selling the stuff.

Oh, yes, I certainly agree the Brit should be charged for the deaths caused, or allowed to be caused by these devices.

The army, and the other 12 Thai government departments who purchased these devices, on the other hand, deserve no get out of jail free card simply because they were duped - no one should sign off on any purchase based on the assertions of the seller, especially a device as expensive and as critical as this. Of course we've all seen this numerous times (aircraft carrier, tanks, APC's, jets without engines, statues, etc. etc.) and, like every other time, no one will be called into account.

Edit: added link to sales blurb

Edited June 21, 2016 by jamesbrock

[JAG]

I think the government of Thailand will find the UK will not compensate them unless they provide very specific details regarding the purchases by Thailand. Certainly, if the UK gets a whiff of corruption (heaven forbid), they might ask for even more information.

That money comes with strings attached.

Break out the popcorn.

One would hope so.

It is probably hoped in certain circles that the compensation will be paid in cash. I'm sure a suitable courier can pick up the envelopes from the back door of the embassy...

[In the jungle]

Surely a case for the Great Man to use the infinite power of Section 44 to make it all go away.except for the compensation.

[BuckBee]

Just not 1 honest enough man or woman to run the country unfortunately .

Until that figure arrive in politics & general public education improves nothing will change besides how low thailand gets ranked & even that can only go so low :-/

[heybruce]

Deleted. Making fun of this military is so easy it's pointless.

Edited June 21, 2016 by heybruce

[baboon]

Compensation might well be due after it can be determined -

Who ordered them?

How much was paid and can we see receipts, please?

What tests on the equipment were performed and who subsequently signed them off as fit for use?

Can we see the results of these tests and the signatures, please?

Why did they remain in use when it was found they clearly were not fit for purpose?

Why has no claim for compensation been filed until now?

Why is the Thai government claiming they were fine at the time but are now blocking any internal enquiry of their own?

Sure they were sold a dud and a dangerous one at that, but they willingly bought them at the time and continued using them even when it was obvious they did not work. I can't really see what claim they have unless they are prepared to throw some of their own under the bus...

[Chris Lawrence]

So no one tested these units before they arrived? Wasn't the General involved with the procurement? Does the tea money have to be paid back?

[tx22cb]

A clip of the Oxford-educated then-Prime Minister about the GT200 - surely he can't be fooled?

The Youtube poster provided the clip's description:

"Translate: In the past these detectors were purchased. If you ask me whether they have been of any use, Id say yes, they have. But a weakness has been found. As far as I know from talking to people familiar with it, a limit of this device is that it relies on static charges within the body of the user. Hence, sometimes if the user hasnt had enough rest or is not well-prepared, the detectors effectiveness will be reduced. So, at the moment, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board is asking for similar detectors, maybe with different names or brands, but which are battery-operated. They will replace the GT200."

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_7jgS_BcLc0