Alongkorn said the purchase contract that the Army's Ordnance Department signed with Giat Industries of France in March was not transparent and suspected that the specifications of the guns were rigged and no other companies were involved in the bidding.

The purchase of the guns was proposed in February 2004 by then Army chief General Chaiyasith Shinawatra, a cousin of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra, and the Cabinet approved it May 2004, Alongkorn said.

General Prawit Ruangsuwan suspended the purchase after tak?ing over as Army chief, citing the high cost, Alongkorn said.

His successor and current Army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin also tried to suspend the purchase, saying the guns would be needed only around 2012 to 2014, but the Cabinet insisted on buying them, he said.

Alongkorn said he would sub?mit evidence to the OAG for an investigation into the procurement. "This purchase is beyond the needs of the Army and the prime minister approved the deal, which is over?priced and not transparent,'' he said.