Bangkok: Pol. Lt. Col. Woranan Srilam, Director of the Consumer Protection Division and Spokesperson of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), has announced progress in the case involving bid collusion in the construction of the State Audit Office building. The case pertains to China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd. forming a joint venture with ITD-CREC for the project. The DSI has forwarded the case summary to the Office of the Attorney General, recommending the indictment of five suspects, including three Thai directors and two Chinese investors. The last suspect, Mr. Binglin Wu, was recently sent to the Attorney General for consideration. The DSI has uncovered evidence linking Mr. Wu to other companies where the three Thai directors are involved.
According to Thai News Agency, the DSI is preparing to send the case file on bid collusion to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) next week. The investigation encompasses three contracts related to the project: the design, construction, and work supervision contracts. The investigation team is currently reviewing 30 boxes of documents, each containing around 400-500 pages. The involvement of approximately 70 state officials is under scrutiny, but their identities remain undisclosed pending the NACC's investigation.
The DSI's findings also revealed that the cement used in the construction did not have the required TIS symbol, as stipulated in the Terms of Reference (TOR). An inspection at the cement plant confirmed the discrepancy. The DSI is awaiting further reports from the Department of Public Works and the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) to determine if the materials used meet the required standards. Any irregularities found will prompt the TISI to file a complaint, leading to potential legal action by the DSI.
The inspection of the Office of the Auditor General's building involves several aspects: demolition under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, legal proceedings by the Bang Sue Police Station in cases of injury or death, and DSI investigations into foreign business operations and bidding collusion. The engineering examination results, including material inspections, will determine the cause of the building's collapse.