The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has accepted a complaint against the private contractor for the 24-billion-baht, graft-plagued Khlong Dan wastewater treatment project in Samut Prakan.
The complaint against NVPSKG consortium was lodged by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), which had earlier decided to suspend paying compensation worth 9.8 billion baht to the company on the grounds that it was riddled with irregularities.
In 2014 the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the Pollution Control Department (PCD) had to pay compensation to the NVPSKG consortium for the unlawful termination of its contract when the project was 90% complete.
The cabinet last year approved the payment in three instalments with the first lot of 3.2 billion baht and US$21.7 million (765.31 million baht) paid in November last year.
The second tranche of 2.38 billion baht and $16.28 million was due to be paid on May 21 and the final tranche of 2.38 billion baht and $16.28 million on Nov 21.
DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang said the money-laundering complaint against the firm is based on a ruling by the Criminal Court that said a group of state officials were in league with the private firm regarding corrupt practices that caused massive financial losses to the state.
Last month, Amlo said three senior PCD officials, who were last year sentenced to 20 years in prison for malfeasance and dereliction of duty in the case, were linked to the consortium, based on the Criminal Court's ruling.
Amlo said the officials helped the consortium become a PCD contractor to build the 23.7-billion-baht facility in Klong Dan.
Mr Paisit said the DSI investigators would conduct a preliminary investigation into Amlo's complaint that will be completed be the end of the month. After that the case will be submitted to the Special Cases Committee for consideration.
Amlo official Witthaya Nititham said yesterday the Amlo board resolved to freeze the first instalment paid to the joint venture.