Sansern Pholjiak, the NACC secretrary-general, said a 9-person subcommittee is now responsible for this controversial case in which UK-based Rolls Royce had admitted that it paid over Bt1.2 billion in bribes to Thai officials in return for multi-billion-baht purchase orders for aircraft engines.

The NACC inquiry will cover the entire procurement process of Thai Airways International for the Rolls Royce engines during 2004-05 when seven Boeing 777-200ER and Airbus A340-500/600 were purchased along with Rolls Royce engines.

The 26 persons to be questioned include former transport minister Suriya Chuengrungruangkit, deputy transport minister Vichet Kasemthongsri, THAI board chairman Thanong Bidaya and THAI president Kanok Apiradee.