BANGKOK, April 25 – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) continues investigating Thailand’s purchase of bogus bomb detectors from a British businessman who was recently convicted by a British court.
DSI Director General Tarit Pengdith said the British court will give its verdict on James McCormick who sold the fake GT200 and Alfa 6 bomb detectors to several countries including Thailand.
Thailand purchased 1,358 sets of the device at Bt1.137 billion.
Mr Tarit said questioning of 90 witnesses were underway and the purchase involved 13 government agencies.
The UK’s BBC reported that McCormick was remanded on conditional bail to be sentenced on 2 May. The Guardian said he could face up to eight years in jail when he is sentenced next month.
The court heard that McCormick put the labels of his company, ATSC, on the fake bomb detectors which were sold for US$5,000 each, according to the BBC.
Chief of Security Case Unit Pong-in In-khao said the DSI is questioning witnesses to collect information on the purchase procedure and fraud activity.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission is jointly investigating the case, he said.
Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the use of GT200 fake detectors in Thailand’s southern provinces has been suspended and replaced by US-made Fido XT explosives detectors.
