TROUBLED HISTORY

In 1995 the cabinet approved two waste water treatment plant projects in Samut Prakan worth about 13.6 billion baht.

Aug 20, 1997

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) awarded the NVPSKG consortium a contract to design and build the plants. Construction costs later increased to about 22.94 billion baht. The consortium proposed building the plants on a plot of land in tambon Klong Dan, prompting resistance from residents who cited environmental concerns.

Feb 28, 2003

The PCD scrapped the project, claiming the contract was invalid, when work was about 98% complete. NVPSKG took the matter to arbitration.

Aug 18, 2008

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders sentenced Vatana Asavahame, former deputy interior minister, to 10 years in prison for bribing land officials to issue him title deeds for more than 1,900 rai of public land, which was subsequently sold to the PCD for the Klong Dan plants.

Nov 11, 2014

The Supreme Administrative Court handed down a ruling forcing the PCD to pay more than 9.05 billion baht, plus annual interest of 7.5% to NVPSKG within 90 days.

Aug 6, 2015

Kasemsun Chinnavaso, permanent secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said the department had negotiated to have the compensation reduced to 9 billion baht.

Nov 21, 2015

The PCD paid 3.2 billion baht, the first compensation installment, to the NVPSKG consortium.

Dec 17, 2015

The Criminal Court sentenced three senior PCD officials to 20 years in prison for malfeasance and dereliction of duty in the case. The court ruled the trio were linked to the consortium, adding they helped the consortium to become a contractor for the PCD to build the 23.7-billion baht facilities. Irregularities were found in the bidding for the project with the collaboration of the officials and the consortium.

May 11, 2016

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) decided to hold back NVPSKG's rights to receive state compensation of almost six billion baht as the contractor of the graft-plagued Klong Dan plants was found to be involved in the corruption. POSTgraphics