The National Anti-Corruption Commission plans to file charges against former national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda and three other high-level officers in connection with the 2.1 billion baht purchase of equipment for the Immigration Police Bureau (IPB) in 2019, a police source said.
The case emerged when Sittra Biabungkerd of the People's Lawyers Foundation asked the NACC to investigate the biometrics procurement project after it was found the equipment did not meet the specifications in the terms of reference.
The company contracted to supply the equipment was also unable to deliver it to the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) in six consignments within 66 days, by May 2, 2019, as stated in the contract.
Despite these shortcomings, the RTPO agreed to accept the equipment and extended the deadline to June 30, 2019 so the supplier did not have to pay a fine of 5 million baht a day.
In 2020, Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, a former IPB commissioner who was then an RTPO adviser, was called by the NACC as a witness.
