Ten police in patrol bikes probe

More than 10 highranking police are set to be sum¬moned for questioning about their role in the allegedly corrupt procurement of a patrol motorcycle model, police sources said yesterday.

The unnamed officers will be questioned along with three other people, who have been summoned for questioning. Two named in news reports as required to meet police next Wednesday (Dec 2) are Banthoon Suphakkhawanich, a senior Finance Ministry official and acting director of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority Pranee Sukkarasorn.

Crime Suppression Division investiga¬tors yesterday said Ratchanok Jaesai, a director with Tiger Motor Co Ltd, was required to meet detectives next Friday (Dec 4) for questioning.

The CSD yesterday sought help from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry to check six computers seized from Isuzu Siam City Co Ltd in a series of raids on Wednesday.

Verification of documents seized from the luxury home of Ruamnakhon Thabthimthongchai, a policemanturnbusinessman who secured the Bt1.14billion motorcycle procurement deal, would take a while, they said.

CSD acting commander Pol Colonel Suphisal Phakdeenaruenart said both Banthoon and Pranee had their lawyers contact police to find out why they had been summoned. He said "both witnesses" were yet to agree to meet police next Wednesday.

Ratchanok reportedly also served with Car Tracking Co Ltd, which tendered for the procurement and won the contract.

An internal Royal Thai Police investigation later found it did not own or operate 104 dealers and repair shops across the country, as stated in bidding documents. As a result, a criminal complaint was later lodged Car Tracking and Ratchanok.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Major General Phanu Kerdlardphol said he drafted specifications for the motorcycle model but was not involved in the procurement process.

Apart from the suspiciously inflated unit price, Tiger motorcycle is also allegedly known for production defects and frequent malfunctions.

Pol Snr Sgt Major Phiansak Buangarm said Tiger motorcycles in his unit underwent daily repairs and that he was constantly nervous when riding one.

Pol Snr Sgt Major Phornchai Phoamphol said more than 10 of his fellow traffic officers had had accidents or sustained injuries riding Tiger bikes. The defects most reported were premature rust on the body frame and handles, malfunctions of wheel axles and moving parts and frequent engine "hiccups" or failures.