thailandedition
Law Committee to Probe TH-AI Passport, Summon Minister

Law Committee to Probe TH-AI Passport, Summon Minister

Matichon•Politics•23d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's parliamentary committee on law and human rights will investigate the TH-AI Passport project, focusing on potential legal violations and summoning the Digital Economy and Society Minister.

  • •The parliamentary committee on law, justice, and human rights has agreed to investigate the TH-AI Passport project.
  • •Concerns raised include potential violations of the Government Procurement Act 2017 and the Anti-Corruption Act.
  • •Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Chaiyut Chitchooop, is set to be summoned for clarification.
  • •The investigation will examine whether the project's TOR (Terms of Reference) was designed to favor a specific bidder, potentially involving energy companies.

Overview

  • •On June 4, 2026, Rangsiman Rome, as chairman of the parliamentary committee on law, justice, and human rights, accepted a petition to investigate the TH-AI Passport project.
  • •The petition cited potential violations of the Government Procurement Act B.E. 2017 and the Anti-Corruption Act.
  • •The investigation is being launched due to concerns that the project may have been designed to favor a specific bidder and lacked transparency.
  • •Rangsiman Rome stated that it would be strange if energy companies were involved in this project, if allegations are true.
  • •The committee will discuss whether to issue a formal summons for Minister Chaiyut Chitchooop to explain the details of the TH-AI Passport project.
  • •The committee will examine the TOR to determine if it was designed to 'lock specifications' for a particular bidder.
  • •Initial information suggests some involved companies may be oil companies, which is considered unusual for this type of project.
  • •The committee will provide an opportunity for all involved parties, including the companies, to present their explanations.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Matichon (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Rangsiman Rome
"If that is true, we must admit it is strange that companies whose main objective is energy are involved with this project."
ถ้าเป็นไปตามนั้นจริง ต้องยอมรับว่าแปลกประหลาดที่บริษัทที่มีวัตถุประสงค์หลักในเรื่องของการทำเกี่ยวกับพลังงานเข้ามาเกี่ยวข้องกับโครงการนี้
Rangsiman Rome
"A letter will be sent to invite Mr. Chaiyut to clarify to the committee, and we will discuss whether to issue a summons for fairness to all parties who should have the opportunity to explain."
คงจะมีการทำหนังสือเรียกให้นายไชยชนกมาชี้แจง กมธ.ต่อไป และคงจะหารือว่าต้องออกคำสั่งเรียกหรือไม่ เพื่อความเป็นธรรมกับทุกฝ่ายเห็นว่าทุกฝ่ายควรมีโอกาสที่จะได้ชี้แจง

Key Entities

Organization

Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights(กมธ.กฎหมาย)
The parliamentary committee in Thailand responsible for legal matters, justice, and human rights.
People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)
A political party in Thailand to which Rangsiman Rome belongs.
Association for the Promotion of Public Oversight of State Power(สมาคมส่งเสริมการตรวจสอบการใช้อำนาจรัฐภาคประชาชน)
A civil society association that submitted a petition to the parliamentary committee to investigate the TH-AI Passport project.
Ministry of Digital Economy and Society(กระทรวงดิจิทัลเพื่อเศรษฐกิจและสังคม)
The government ministry responsible for digital economy and society issues in Thailand, overseeing the minister summoned for the TH-AI Passport investigation.

Project

TH-AI Passport
A government project undergoing investigation for alleged irregularities in procurement and potential corruption.

Person

Rangsiman Rome(นายรังสิมันต์ โรม)
Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights who is leading the investigation into the TH-AI Passport project.
Chaiyut Chitchooop(นายไชยชนก ชิดชอบ)
Minister of Digital Economy and Society who will be summoned by the parliamentary committee to clarify details of the TH-AI Passport project.

Law

Government Procurement Act B.E. 2017(พระราชบัญญัติ (พ.ร.บ.) การจัดซื้อจัดจ้างภาครัฐปี 2017)
A Thai law governing government procurement processes, cited as potentially violated in the TH-AI Passport project.
Act on Offenses Relating to Bidding to Government Agencies(พ.ร.บ.ว่าด้วยความผิดเกี่ยวกับการเสนอราคาต่อหน่วยหน่วยงานของรัฐ)
A Thai anti-corruption law, also known as the Bid-Rigging Act, potentially violated by the TH-AI Passport project.