Bangkok Post
February 21, 2004

The public prosecution yesterday filed a suit against the private consortium building the Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant in Samut Prakan over contract violations.

The suit filed with the Civil Court demanded the consortium return 17 billion baht in construction costs to the Pollution Control Department, which awarded the contract.

The consortium comprises six firms: Vijitphan Construction, Prayoonvit Karnchang, Saisaeng Karnyotha, Krungthon Engineering, Gateway and NVPSKG. The court accepted the suit and set June 28 for the first hearing.

Sa-nguan Teeyapaibunsin, director-general of Office of the Attorney-General’s civil litigation, said the consortium violated the contract from the beginning because it failed to tell the Pollution Control Department that British-based North West water International Ltd, a firm experienced in handling waste treatment projects, pulled out on July 28, 1997, 23 days before the contract was signed.

The consortium won the contract on the understanding that it must work with an experienced technical partner.