The ministry cooperated fully with the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) over its investigation into the project, said spokesman Kitti Wasinondh.

The OAG informed the ministry on May 10 that it would conduct an inquiry, but Kitti said he understood it was routine practice, since the proj¬ect involved a huge amount of money.

Sources close to the investigation said the auditor found a pattern of irregularities in the bidding procedure. The inquiry has not yet been finalised.

A consortium of Chan Wanich Co Ltd, Chan Wanich Security Printing Co Ltd and Singapore based NEC Solutions Asia Pacific Ltd won the con¬cession to produce 7 million epassport books over a 10year period and to install related facilities at Bangkok's Don Muang Airport.

The consortium charged the ministry Bt953.25 per passport book while competitor MFEC Consortium quoted Bt980 per book.

The winning consortium met all requirements in technical and pric¬ing criteria set by the ministry, Kitti said.

A Senate special commission on corruption, chaired by senator Pratin Santiprabob, concluded on February 10 last year that the min¬istry's epassport project was con¬ducted in accordance with pro¬curement regulations, he said.

The ministry signed an agreement with the consortium on January 26 last year. The consortium began the first phase of the project by introducing epassports for officials and diplomats in June last year.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation