The Democrat Party yesterday alleged Thai Airways International had made an over-priced purchase that favoured a businessman close to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a THAI executive.

Democrat deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr said he had receive information that there were irregularities in the purchase of Bt132 million worth of blankets by THAI last year as well as a plan to buy travel bags worth Bt229 million.

Alongkorn said the information he had received showed that THAI had bought the blankets from a firm owned by a Chiang Mai businessman with close links to Thaksin for Bt40 million more than a rival firm offering better quality products.

Alongkorn said THAI purchased 600,000 blankets for economy-class passengers for Bt132 million from a firm called Woraphan without calling tenders.

He said THAI purchased the blankets for Bt220 each, but a rival firm offered their blankets for Bt154 each.

Alongkorn alleged Woraphan was owned by a businessman who carried a business card stating that he was an adviser to Thaksin.

Alongkorn said an assets declaration by former transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that he had lent Bt20 million to the businessman.

Alongkorn said Woraphan imported cheap blankets from China to sell to THAI at an inflated price while a rival firm offered to sell higher quality blankets made in Thailand.

The Democrat deputy leader also alleged there were irregularities in the plan by THAI to purchase 72,000 travel bags for first class and 720,000 bags for business-class passengers worth Bt229 million.

He said a bid committee favoured a firm owned by a THAI executive and a firm called Solomon after a tender offer was called on July 12.

He said Solomon had the same owner as Woraphan.

Alongkorn said THAI should delay the bag purchase until there was more transparency in the project.

He said he would pass on his information to the Assets Examination Committee and the National Counter Corruption Commission.