The NACC Phuket office is seeking detailed information on budget allocation, median price determination, procurement methods and authorisation processes, as well as relevant documents for further investigation into the allegations of corruption and inflated pricing involving Phu Khao Advertising Co Ltd.
The average price for the contract was determined to be B11.8mn. It was found that procurement regulations were violated. The auction was scheduled for July 19, with the winner announced the same day. However, records show that the sticker sheets were installed earlier, on July 17-18, before the auction bids were opened.
“The NACC was not [formally] informed about the case, and no one from AoT has reported the corruption case directly to us, which raises doubts,” Suwat Saowarat, Director of the NACC Office in Phuket, told The Phuket News.
Phasaramon Kanchanawanit, AoT’s Director of Corporate Communications, confirmed to The Phuket News that disciplinary action has been ordered against the Deputy Director of Phuket International Airport and three senior staff over alleged corruption.
However, she, and any other representatives of AoT questioned by The Phuket News, declined to disclose the specific punishments, citing internal policies and an ongoing review by the AoT committee.
None of the officials at AoT at Phuket airport or at the main office in Bangkok were willing to give any further information to The Phuket News other than what AoT has already announced in a notice posted online in August.
The notice, citing AoT President Kerati Kijmanawat, said that an internal investigation into the corruption scandal had already been completed, and that disciplinary action would be taken against the senior management at Phuket airport deemed by the AoT investigation as guilty of corrupt practices.
However, there has been no confirmation of any punishment to any of the individuals involved.
Of note, while making enquiries about the case, The Phuket News was quickly, and consistently, redirected to the Office of the AoT President instead.
AoT has not confirmed the identities of those found guilty of corruption in their investigation, however, local Thai media reports have openly named the four as:
- Jirattikul Eiamhiran, Deputy Director of Phuket Airport (Operations and Maintenance)
- Peera Akkhachai, Director of the Business Support Division at Phuket Airport
- Pakin Sirichan, from the Airport Department (Operations and Maintenance Division)
- Mr. Wiwatana Aimchoi, Director of the Supplies Division at Phuket Airport
“The investigation was handled internally by AoT and its committee, so we did not report the matter to the PACC [Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission] or the NACC,” Ms Phasaramon told The Phuket News.
“AOT has its own policies in place to investigate and discipline employees directly,” she added, without any recognition of the legal requirement of state officials reporting any incidents of corruption to the PACC or the NACC.
“However, I insisted that AoT has investigated and made a proper punishment,” Ms Phasaramon assured.
NACC Phuket Director Mr Suwat has since explained to The Phuket News that the case is under the responsibility of the NACC.
He also clarified the difference between the NACC and the PACC. “In most cases, corruption involving amounts exceeding B500,000 falls under the jurisdiction of the NACC, while cases involving amounts below B500,000 are handled by the PACC,” he noted.
AoT’s request for more time follows the operator of six international airports in Thailand failing to provide any information about the case to the NACC Phuket, which formally asked for more information weeks ago, on Sept 11.
NACC Phuket asked three simple requests:
- How is the investigation progressing?
- What are the current results or disciplinary actions?
- Further information and documents necessary for a thorough investigation, including evidence related to the purchase, budget requirements and the investigation conducted by AoT.
“I set the deadline for submitting evidence on Wednesday [Sept 25], but AOT Phuket failed to meet this deadline. They requested an extension, stating that the necessary documents are located at the AoT main office in Bangkok,” Mr Suwat told The Phuket News.
“The AoT main office in Bangkok is now officially under investigation by the NACC branch in Bangkok,” Mr Suwat confirmed.
“The central NACC office has accepted the case for further investigation. They are currently conducting an inquiry into AoT,” he noted.