PTT to launch probe into Rolls-Royce bribery allegation

BANGKOK, Jan 21 (TNA) -- Thailand’s Ministry of Energy orders the country’s energy giant PTT to launch a corruption probe into the Rolls-Royce bribery allegation. The order came two days after Thai Airways International (THAI) announced that it set up a committee to probe allegations of bribery after the British aerospace corporate admitted in court that it made payments to agents of THAI. In the case by the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Rolls-Royce committed conspiracy to corrupt or failure to prevent bribery involving Thailand and other six countries. Minister of Energy Anantaporn Kanchanarat said on Friday that he had ordered another state enterprise PTT to set up similar probe committee to probe into allegation that PTT executives involved in bribery worth US$11 million from Rolls-Royce between 2000 -2013. PTT says the committee will conduct urgent investigation and produce a report within 30 days, affirming its commitment to good governance and transparency. Mr Anantaporn said any wrongdoing was likely committed by individuals and it should not tarnish PTT’s image. The SFO revealed 12 counts of conspiracy against Rolls-Royce to corrupt or failure to prevent bribery in other six other countries – Indonesia, India, Russia, Nigeria, China and Malaysia. The British company agrees to pay 671 million pounds in penalties to settle nearly 25 years of corruption allegations to the SFO, 141 million pounds to the US Justice Department and another 21.5 million pounds to Brazilian regulators. (TNA)