Not just money, critics want probe results (UPDATE)

Pressure has mounted for Thai investigators to wrap up the GT200 bogus bomb detector case after a UK court this week ordered compensation be paid to affected countries from the forfeited assets of the convicted seller.

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Sunday update

A Thai soldier uses a GT200 detector as he patrols the streets of Yala in March 2010. AFP

GT200 back to haunt Thailand after UK forfeit order

Online reporters

Pressure has mounted for Thai investigators to wrap up the GT200 bogus bomb detector case after a UK court this week ordered compensation be paid to affected countries from the forfeited assets of the convicted seller.

Thirteen Thai agencies ranging from the armed forces and police to customs and provincial authorities spent nearly 1.4 bllion baht on 1,358 detection devices between 2006 and 2010. The devices themselves were said to have cost about 400 million baht, with the rest of the money going to two Thai firms that acted as middlemen and have not been named.

The devices were used widely in the troubled southern border provinces. Critics say some deaths and injuries resulted when the devices failed to do their job, while false alarms led security officers to put innocent people in jail on suspicion of planting bombs.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that James McCormick, who is serving a 10-year jail term for selling the dud devices, was ordered to forfeit 7.94 million pounds (400 million baht) to his customers.

An investigation into the effectiveness of the GT200 was conducted in 2010 following numerous false readings and losses of life. After studying the device, an academic declared it was as effective as "a wooden stick".

However, the powers-that-be at the time swore by it, saying it did not work in some cases because users were nervous.

In 2013 a UK court sentenced McCormick to 10 years in prison for selling the bogus device. A year later, businessman Gary Bolton was convicted along with Samuel Tree, while Tree's wife received a suspended sentence for assembling the device, according to the BBC.

However, investigations into possible corruption involving the purchases by the Thai government have gone nowhere.

In mid-October last year, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said the investigation was difficult because it was "a mystery".

"Apparently, [the GT200] was not effective but in determining the guilt of a state official, we need more than just that," said commissioner Vichai Vivitasevi. "Besides, in finding evidence, we faced obstacles because the manufacturer refused to give us more information."

The Department of Special Investigation has also been looking into the GT200 since August 2013 as a "special case".

Saturday's story

Prawit mulls dud detector suit

Wassana Nanuam

Thai authorities are considering whether to sue a jailed British businessman who sold them bogus bomb detectors following an asset seizure order, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Friday.

His comments follow a news report that James McCormick, who is serving a 10-year jail term for making bogus bomb detectors, has been ordered by a British court to forfeit cash and assets worth about 395 million baht.

Gen Prawit said he has instructed state agencies affected by the bogus detectors to consider what they can do in light of the court order.

Thirteen agencies are believed to have been duped into buying 1,300 fake bomb and drug detectors from UK-based Comstrac Co, owned by McCormick.

The GT200 was claimed to be able to detect both bombs and drugs. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

Gen Prawit also insisted the GT200 detectors are no longer used by the army which was said to have been the major buyer of the devices. The army purchased more than 700 GT200 units after 2006, with most of them used in the restive deep South.

According to BBC reports, Judge Richard Hone QC who in a 2013 trial said McCormick's fraud had undoubtedly cost lives, recently ordered that his cash, property and a luxury motor cruiser be taken from him.

The judge also ordered that some of that money should be paid in compensation to nations around the world that bought the devices, including Bahrain, Lebanon, Niger and Georgia. Iraq is due to receive £2.3m (115 million baht) in compensation.

After the 2013 ruling by the British court, the Department of Special Investigation accepted the the purchase of the GT200 bomb detectors as a special case.

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