Error gets firm off NACC bribery hook
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Construction giant STEC charged under wrong section of Criminal Code
published : 17 Dec 2020 at 07:55
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The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has decided not to seek the prosecution of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc (STEC) in a bribery case that allegedly occurred in 2015.
Commissioners voted 6 to 3 on Tuesday not to prosecute the company after finding that the wrong law had been applied to the case from the outset, the Isranews Agency reported.
During the course of the investigation, the firm was accused of paying bribes in contravention of Section 144 of the Criminal Code when it should have faced charges of violating Section 149 for allegedly assisting state officials to demand ill-gotten gains.
Deadline for building looms
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The secretariat of the House of Representatives will hold talks with legal experts to find solutions to the unfinished construction of the new parliament complex as the new deadline for its completion approaches.
Pornpit Petcharoen, secretary of the House of Representatives, said the deadline is Dec 31 and the House secretariat will discuss the matter with its legal advisers on how to proceed.
Ms Pornpit did however note that construction of the interior of the new parliament complex has made much progress.
Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc (Stecon), the contractor, has requested another 133-day deadline extension, and the secretariat will consider whether to grant it or not. The 12-billion-baht construction contract was signed on April 30, 2013 and was to be completed within 900 days or by Nov 24, 2015.