Published on June 24, 2005

The Anti-Money Laundering Office has so far not detected any corruption in the Suvarnabhumi Air-port scanner deal, but will extend its probe into the affair by 30 days.

Evidence from the government panel investigating the scandal has not turned up anything suspicious, secretary-general Peeraphan Prempooti said yesterday.

But AMLO, on a recommendation from its board, has decided to wait for more evidence expected to be submitted by a special Senate committee chaired by Senator Pratin Santiprabhob, Peeraphan said.

AMLO’s initial finding of no wrongdoing does not reflect lax performance or deliberate negligence on the agency’s part, he added. The agency has not inspected the assets of any party but subpoenaed Worapoj Yosadatt, owner of Patriot Business Consultant Co Ltd, which was subcontracted to acquire and install the CTX machines.

The June 17 meeting had to be adjourned after Worapoj showed up without any documents detailing his directly or indirectly owned assets, and a follow-up session has not yet been scheduled, Peeraphan said.

The two House committees jointly probing the scandal have called a halt to their combined effort because senior officials, including Srisook Chandrangsu, chairman of Airports of Thailand Plc, would not appear for questioning.

Thai Rak Thai MP Paisal Chatharapakdee, chairman of the transport committee, said each panel would continue on its own, relying mainly on information to be used in the no-confidence debate against Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on Monday.

Thai Rak Thai MP Thewan Liptapanlop, chairman of the panel on corruption prevention, said his body had completed its report, but would release it after the debate to avoid influencing the proceedings and no-confidence vote.

Democrat MP Alongkorn Polabutr, a deputy of Paisal on the transport panel, strongly condemned the committees’ decision to break off joint operations, describing their efforts as a failure and demanding that House Speaker Bhokin Bhalakula – who ordered both panels to work together – to show responsibility.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Samascha Hunsara

The Nation

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