The result of financial probe of the extravagant lighting show held by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was revealed, reported Bangkok Post.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) allegedly used the budget for the next year on Thai New Year light show “Bangkok Light of Happiness”.

Pisit Leelavachiropas, auditor-general who performed the financial probe said that the State Audit Commission (SAC) has found evidence of price collusion in the contract bidding.

Meanwhile, it’s found that the companies that won the bid had no previous experience in lighting projects.

This companies’ registered timing were nearly identical to the announcement of BMA’s tenders, said Pisit. Two of the companies were in fact connected to each other and were not qualified to the bidding. However, they managed to register so as to meet the terms of reference (ToR) released by the BMA.

The probe found that the winning contractors had the lights and components ready in advance of the bidding result.

All these findings led to legal action against nine associated individuals, including Sukhumbhand Paribatra; Thawatchai Chan-ngam, chief of the tourism division under the BMA’s Culture, Sport, and Tourism Department; Pranee Sattayaprakop, the department’s director; Yossak Khongmark, director of the BMA’s Budget Department; and five other members of the committee responsible for the ToR setting.

The SAC is to pass its findings to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and purse further legal action. Meanwhile, the matter will also be sent to City Hall for the launch of disciplinary investigation against the associated BMA officials. The ultimate penalty for guilty officials is dismissal.