NACC says ex-PTTEP execs allegedly took bribes from Rolls-Royce for contract

NACC Office secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said the anti-corruption agency had found grounds to suspect that the four former officials of the PTTEP had abused their authority to help Rolls-Royce win a project to supply two feed gas turbine compressors to the state firm back in 2004-2008.

Niwatchai said the NACC started an investigation into the Rolls-Royce project to supply two feed gas turbine compressors costing US$27 million to PTTEP after US authorities charged five individuals in 2017 linked to alleged bribery by Rolls-Royce.

Prior to the US charges being made public, Rolls-Royce had already settled bribery and corruption claims with authorities in the US, UK, and Brazil in 2017 for a total of £671 million.

Niwatchai named the four suspects as two ex-directors – Jittrapong Kwangsuksathit and Anucha Sihanarthakul – former PTTEP president Marut Maruekhathat and former vice president Paopadet Worabutr.

According to the NACC’s investigation results, the PTTEP built a gas and oil rig in the Gulf of Thailand, off the coast of Songkhla province, in 2004-2008 and wanted to buy two feed gas turbine compressors.

At that time, Paopadet was in charge of the offshore project and the three other suspects were on a subcommittee in charge of the procurement.

Niwatchai said another member of the subcommittee, Julasing Wasantasing, was deceased so the corruption charges against him were automatically dropped.

Niwatchai said Paopadet had rushed the subcommittee to invite firms to bid for the project.

He said the subcommittee later agreed in principle to buy the gas compressors and recommended the prices be compared among all project bidders.

However, then PTTEP CEO Marut later informed the company's board of directors that the subcommittee had already selected Rolls-Royce as the provider of the gas compressors.

Niwatchai said Jittrapong, Anucha and Julasing were also on the PTTEP board of directors but did not do anything to reveal that Marut had lied about the subcommittee’s decision.

Niwatchai said the NACC saw the behaviours of the four suspects of alleged collusion to prevent fair competition from other suppliers to enable Rolls-Royce to win the $24.663 million contract.

Niwatchai said Paopadet later allegedly received a bribe of $300,543, which was transferred to a bank account in Singapore before the sum was later transferred to an account of Paopadet’s aide.

Niwatchai said the four suspects had violated the Offences of Officials in State Organisations or Agencies Act and violated the state procurement act.

The NACC also found Marut to have allegedly committed a serious disciplinary offence.

Niwatchai said the NACC had forwarded the investigative report to the attorney-general’s office to file charges in court accordingly.

The PTTEP was also asked to take retroactive disciplinary action against Marut, Niwatchai added.

The attorney-general’s office was asked to seek a court order for impounding the bribery amount of $300,543, the NACC secretary-general said.