Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of APTC, called for the NACC to investigate contracts between Preecha’s son Pathompol, who owns Contemporary Construction Limited Partnership, and the Third Army Area, Water Resources Regional Office 9 in Phitsanulok province and the Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) of the same province.

The company has won bids for 11 construction projects.

Srisuwan asked whether any favours were granted by the agencies to Preecha’s son, because the company has a registered capital of just Bt1.5 million but has been able to win contracts worth Bt155 million.

Pathompol is also a nephew of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as Preecha is PM’s younger brother.

Of the 11 projects, seven came from the Third Army Area worth Bt 97 million, one from Water Resource Department worth 44.8 million, and three projects worth 13 million from the TAO. The contracts were obtained for three years – 2014 to 2016.

The related four other officials facing investigation are Third Army chief Lt-General Somsak Nilbanjerdkul, former Third Army chief Lt-General Sathit Pitrat, president of Phitsanulok Provincial Administrative Organisation Monchai Wiwatthanat and director of Water Resources Regional Office 9 Phitsanulok Chonlathorn Pancharoen.

“The firm was founded in 2012, when Preecha held the influential position of Third Army chief, which may be the reason why the company won the contracts [from the Army],” Srisuwan noted.

“We want the NACC to investigate if there were any terms of reference written by the different parties to accommodate each other. We think the contracts between the firm and the Army and the other two state agencies in the area could be violating anti-corruption bills,” he said.