Bangkok: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has announced plans to send the case related to the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General building to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) within the next week. The case involves more than 70 government officials accused of collusion in the bidding process for the construction contract of the State Audit Office building.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Col. Suravut Rangsai, Deputy Director-General and spokesman of the DSI, disclosed the progress of Special Case No. 58/2568. The investigation covers three contracts related to the Office of the Auditor General’s construction project: the design, construction, and work supervision contracts. The offenses fall under the Act on Offenses Relating to Bidding to State Agencies B.E. 2542, necessitating the case’s referral to the NACC for further investigation. The DSI has already forwarded the case to the Office of the Attorney General for Special Cases. The investigation also uncovered the involvement of China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and other parties, leading to additional cases related to bid rigging and nominee issues.
The DSI’s investigation concluded that three groups of state officials were implicated in the bid collusion case. These groups include executives of independent organizations, various committees involved in design, construction, and supervision, and a legal review committee under the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017. The DSI aims to submit a comprehensive report to the NACC by the end of this week or early next week.
Pol. Lt. Col. Suravut also mentioned the legal actions initiated from a complaint about bid rigging, focusing on the PKW joint venture’s operations. The investigation revealed forgery of signatures and the use of unqualified personnel in the bidding process. Six PKW joint ventures have been charged, with connections to a broader network of suspects involved in bid rigging, from design to construction.
Regarding the involvement of state officials, the DSI spokesman stated that allegations have been made against high-ranking executives at the State Audit Office. The investigation includes examining whether there was favoritism or exemptions granted to facilitate the PKW joint venture’s success in the bidding process.
The case also involves allegations against the Procurement and Contracting Problem Resolution Committee concerning oversight of the design, construction, and supervision processes. Evidence suggests that exemptions were improperly granted to facilitate certain companies, which the NACC will further investigate.
Pol. Lt. Col. Suravut emphasized that the incidents under investigation occurred during the tenure of past executives, not the current leadership. The DSI has coordinated with various agencies to compile the extensive documentation required for the NACC’s review. The outcome of the investigation will determine any involvement of current executives.
The pursuit of key suspect Mr. Binling Wu, a Chinese investor linked to China Railway Company, is ongoing. The DSI continues to coordinate with relevant agencies to resolve remaining issues in the investigation process.
The DSI is committed to expediting the investigation and ensuring that all relevant documents are submitted to the NACC promptly, as they work closely with other committees appointed to examine the case’s complexities.