Admiral Bannawit Kengrien said his committee for solving problems concerning Suvarnabhumi Airport had evidence of fraud involving the installation of electricity and air-conditioning systems.

He said the panel would conclude its investigation soon before passing a report to the current AOT board. If the board approved the report, it would need to ask the National Counter Corruption Commission to take legal action against the wrongdoers, he added.

During Bannawit's visit to the airport yesterday, representatives of the AOT labour union handed him a letter asking the panel to probe biddings believed to involve graft.

Meanwhile, AOT will pay more than Bt468 million in compensation to householders affected by noise pollution from the new airport.

AOT advised the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday of a board decision to pay compensation.

Three property owners will share Bt43 million for three plots of land and eight buildings.

The remaining Bt389 million will be divided among other victims of noise pollution. There are 29 plots of land and 36 buildings involved.

Some sufferers have elected not to sell but have asked AOT to pay for building maintenance. Others are in negotiation over compensation.

AOT has proposed to the Nation-al Economic and Social Develop-ment Board that it provide Bt175 million to improve areas affected by noise.

The United States Federal Avia-tion Administration developed a system to predict annoyance to neighbourhoods by aircraft noise. It declared residential areas should have noise-exposure factors below 30. The areas affected by Suvarna-bhumi have between 30 and 40.