THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) expected to receive details from the UK next week about its probe into bribes of more than Bt1 billion paid by aircraft engine-maker Rolls-Royce to Thai officials in connection with Thai Airways International (THAI)’s purchase of Boeing aircraft between 1991 and 2005.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who was also deputy premier in 2004 during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, said he could not remember the details of Cabinet resolutions during that time concerning the approval for THAI to buy Rolls-Royce engines.

Isra News Agency reported that the Cabinet on November 23, 2004 approved a proposal submitted by Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to buy 14 air planes for Thai Airways International at the price of Bt96.355 billion.

Suriya changed from the original plan the number of air planes from 15 comprising used planes to 14 brand new ones.

According to the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), there is evidence to indicate the payment of kickbacks by Rolls-Royce to Thai officials totalling US$38 million (Bt1.3 billion) during the 1991-2005 period. Payments involved three separate contracts signed by THAI to buy Rolls-Royce engines for the national-flag carrier’s Boeing aircraft.

Wissanu said a Rolls-Royce representative previously provided data on the cases to THAI but some specifics had not been disclosed as they required the authorisation of the UK government. However, the NACC is empowered to seek evidence from its UK counterpart regarding who paid and received bribes and when the payments took place.

THAI has set up committees to investigate the allegations and the Office of Auditor-General said that while the statute of limitations for some cases may have expired, those implicated in bribery scandals should still face disciplinary action.

Payments disguised

Wissana said it was too early to arrive at a conclusion regarding allegations because authorities were still in the fact-gathering stage.

Meanwhile, Prasert Bunsumpun, a former chief executive of PTT, said he had no involvement in Rolls-Royce contracts although he was the top executive at the state-owned oil and gas company during the relevant period.

The Guardian newspaper has reported that Rolls-Royce employees hired intermediaries to help to secure contracts with PTT, including one case in which an employee and senior PTT executive discussed how a large payment could be disguised by the company’s accounting software.

More than $11m in corrupt payments were made over 10 years, according to the UK paper.

When asked about the alleged bribes, Prasert said: “PTT has set up an investigation committee, so we may have to wait to see the results [of who was involved] from outside and inside [PTT] and respect the outcome.”

Prasert served as chief executive officer and president of PTT from January 1, 2008, to September 9, 2011. He still sits on PTT’s board as an independent director and chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

He is also on the board of PTT subsidiaries and other private companies including Thaicom Plc and Thoresen Thai Agencies Plc.

Anon Sirisaengtaksin, former chief executive of PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP), said he was the CEO of the firm after the period when the alleged bribes took place.

“I’m surprised,” he said, commenting on the alleged involvement of PTT and PTTEP in the scandal.

He said PTT usually pursued most of its projects on a turnkey basis, meaning it did not have control over the decisions of its contractors or the equipment they used.

“Contractors choose their own [equipment]. [The supplier] might lobby the contractors. We would usually not buy the engines by |ourselves. This is my presumption,” he said.