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President Khan Prachuab-moh and other top executives of the state-owned bank will be among the accused, Finance Ministry sources said yesterday.

An investigative commit-|tee headed Sopawadee Lert-manuschai of the Stock Exchange of Thailand found |the GH Bank's top manage-ment had failed to solve the problems of the bank's core computer system, which left |it open to the multimillion-|baht embezzlement by 10 staff led by Somkiat Panyaworra-khundej.

However, the panel's probe showed none of the top managers was involved in the criminal conspiracy.

The committee will hold its final meeting on July 15, after which it is expected to recommend that the bank's board of directors ask the Finance Ministry, the bank's major shareholder, to proceed with the case.

"When the Finance Ministry receives our report, it is expected to name a high-power investigative body to consider taking further action against those who were grossly negligent," said one committee member.

Sources said Khan and top GH Bank executives had overlooked ordering bank officials to close loopholes in the main computer and accounting system.

"The bank's president is supposed to ensure the internal audit system is fully functional, but he apparently failed to do so. Other staff from accounting, computer and branch operations told us they could do nothing unless the president issued his order," another source said.

Deficiencies in the main computer system meant some unauthorised staff could break into it for their own use.

"There are still other flaws in this system, which was installed in 2007. For example, the database on customers' payments is still defective, as are the programmes for interest charges or principal adjustments," the source said.

The Bt600-million contract for the bank's main computer system was awarded to Infosys Technology, which subcontracted Datamat to install the system.

However, Datamat was taken over by a firm with no expertise in this field, said sources familiar with the preliminary investigation.

GH Bank operates 75 full branches and 28 sub-branches nationwide, as well as 20 service centres and 15 kiosks.

On June 15, the bank's computer system malfunctioned, resulting in the temporary suspension of all banking services.