After a four-month probe into the deal, panel member Nittaya Chanreungmahapol,

who is an adviser to the Public Health Ministry, said the panel had submitted its report to Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin.

She said she could not comment further on the report as it was regarded as confidential. Any public announcement as to who was involved could lead to lawsuits, she said.

Nittaya said that while the probe had found irregularities in the deal, including that the procurement was overpriced, it needed the opinion of experts to confirm whether or not corruption had been involved.

Because of this the panel could not say who should take responsibility, she said.

She said the opening of a letter of credit partially made the deal complete, but further investigation was needed into the factors that led to the opening of the letter of credit.

"Blame can not be placed on the small fry. There needs to be an in-depth investigation.

"It certainly involved high-ranking individuals, but I can not give you names pending such a probe.

"This panel's probe was just a preliminary investigation, so it would not be fair to give out information just yet," she said.

Deputy governor Wallop Suwandee said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would submit the report to the caretaker interior minister next week.

The deputy governor said the BMA would then forward the information to both the National Counter Corruption Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General.

Jeerawan Prasomsap

The Nation