NACC ends Thai Airways A340 corruption case, drops charges

Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has cleared three former politicians of graft over the procurement of ten A340s for Thai Airways International during 2003-2004. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, former deputy transport minister Pichet Sathitchawan, former chairman of the Thai Airways board Thanong Pittaya, and former Thai Airways president Kanok Apiradee all faced dereliction of duty charges relating to the aircraft's acquisition process, which was found to be corrupt and to have substantially contributed to the state-owned carrier's ongoing financial woes. Between 2002 and 2004, the then Thaksin-led Thai cabinet approved a plan by Thai Airways to buy four A340-500s and six A340-600 for THB53.5b baht (US$1.54b). The ten aircraft arrived between 2005 and 2008 and exited between 2012 and 2015. However, the quadjets accumulated losses of THB7b in the first three years of operations on just two routes. However, in a July 12 media interview, Pichet said the NACC had told him it would discontinue the charges against all four men. Notably, the NACC's decision comes ahead of Thaksin's planned return to Thailand later this month after several years in exile abroad.<br/>