Thailand’s NACC finds guilty among four former executives of energy base firm of corruption and bribery

EQS Newswire / 01/05/2024 / 15:00 CET/CEST

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 May 2024 - The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) reached a resolution that four former executives of the Thai State-owned oil and gas company, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), are found guilty of corruption, collusion, and bribery in connection to PTTEP's Arthit Offshore Gas Field Project.

The NACC was made aware of this case following the United States Government's announcement of the conclusion of its investigation into the global bribery scheme of Rolls-Royce, the United Kingdom-based manufacturer and distributor of power systems for the aerospace, defense, marine, and energy sectors. The company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, which publicly disclosed information on corrupt contract awards about gas turbine procurement for several Thai Government's natural gas projects, including PTTEP's Arthit Project. The NACC initiated its investigation in response to this high-profile disclosure. The evidence obtained in this case was secured not only from domestic sources but also from abroad through close cooperation with foreign authorities and the Attorney-General, which is the designated Thai Central Authority for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

The NACC's Secretary-General, Mr. Niwatchai Kasemmongkol revealed in recent days that the NACC investigation found a long-running corruption and bribery scheme in the Arthit Project pertaining to the procurement of feed gas turbine compressors between 2004 - 2008 valued over US$24.6 million. The scheme involved PTTEP's Vice President of the Thai Offshore Assets Division, Mr. Poawpadet Vorabutr, intentionally issuing invitations to unapproved vendors, including Rolls-Royce, to submit bid proposals. In furtherance of the scheme, the Ad Hoc Board for Arthit Procurement whose members included Mr. Chitrapongse Kwangsukstith, Mr. Chulasingh Vasantasingh, and Mr. Anucha Sihanatkathakul, acknowledged the bid result and approved the purchase in principle prior to finalization of critical issues and observations. Subsequently, PTTEP's President and Secretary to the PTTEP Board, Mr. Maroot Mrigadat, reported contrary facts regarding the approval to the PTTEP Board Meeting. However, Mr. Kwangsukstith, Mr. Vasantasingh, and Mr. Sihanatkathakul, attending the meeting along with Mr. Mrigadat, did not make any clarification or objections against those distorted facts which eventually resulted in the purchase made directly to Rolls-Royce. Moreover, the investigation documentarily revealed that Rolls-Royce transferred approximately US$300,000 into the overseas bank accounts of Mr. Vorabutr's close associates after the contract was awarded to the company.