The Department of Special Investigation has accepted for immediate investigation a petition seeking an inquiry into possible price collusion in a contract for the construction of eight flats for police under the jurisdiction of the Region 8 Provincial Police headquarters, DSI chief Tarit Pengdit said.
The petition was filed with the DSI on Wednesday by Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit.
Mr Prompong also handed over to the DSI related documents purportedly showing that the construction of the eight police flats in Region 8 had not been completed by the deadline set in the contract.
He wanted the DSI to investigate whether the delay involved price collusion since the company contracted to build the flats is PCC Development and Construction Co (PCC).
PCC was awarded a contract by the Royal Thai Police Office to build 396 police station buildings nationwide but failed to complete them by the June 17 deadline last year. The DSI has launched an investigation into possible price collusion and intervention by former prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban.
Mr Prompong said he also found that the construction of a total of 163 flats in other police regions was also not completed. He claimed the damage was about 3,800 million baht.
Mr Tarit said he decided to accept the petition and launch an investigation right away, without having to seek approval from the Special Cases Committee, because the DSI has jurisdiction to do this under the anti-bidding price collusion law.
He said he would visit Region 8 Provincial Police for a preliminary investigation on Friday.