“The committee is currently gathering all related details and will present them to me this week,” he said. “I am confident the new evidence will make a valid base for a corruption case, and consequently tip the scales in our favour.

“If the Transport Ministry was not certain that we would win, we wouldn’t try to make a move towards the Criminal Court,” said the minister. “However, the result is dependent on the court’s discretion.”

According to Saksyam, the committee on Hopewell is also working on a plan to pay compensation to Hopewell in case the latter wins the case.

“We are coming up with a plan as to where to get the money from and how to pay, but only in case we lose,” he said.

A payment of Bt11.88 billion to Hopewell is due on October 19.