Eagle Thai chief dismisses Sondhi aircraft allegation
 The Nation
December 10 , 2005 - In an interview with The Nation yesterday, Ekachai Thammavaranukupt, president of Eagle Thai, dismissed allegations he was trying to broker a jet-fighter deal between Russia and Thailand.
Ekachai dismissed allegations made by Sondhi Limthongkul yesterday that Eagle Thai was trying to muscle out the existing broker, Karnjana-arpha Co.
Ekachai said it was in the nature of this business that brokers wanted to be in on the act during military procurement projects, but he insisted he had not been awarded the deal.
He said he was not aware of any document made public by Sondhi about his alleged attempt to become the broker for the purchase of Russian-made SU-30 MK jet fighters.
Yet in a letter dated March 25, 2005, obtained by The Nation, Ekachai introduces himself to the director-general of the Russian state-run Unitary Enterprise, expressing his desire to act as broker for the sale of Russian jet fighters to Thailand.
In another letter, dated November 14, 2005, Karnjana-arpha Co complains to Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura that the then Air Force chief ACM Kongsak Wantana had been helping Eagle Thai to get the deal. |
