The Central Procurement Board (CPB), responsible for analyzing and selecting the best bids for government projects is currently in troubled waters – its CEO is expected to be quizzed by Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
CPB’s CEO, Kreetykant Dosieah, could reportedly be quizzed ‘under warning’ over the Burmeister and Wain Scandinavian Contractors (BWSC)/PADCO fraud.
The BSWC scandal uncovered by Danish authorities around the setting up of a power plant for the Central Electricity Board is, according to Week- End newspaper, feared to be only the “tip of the iceberg.”
The African Development Bank, which funded the project, had called the ICAC to launch a joint-investigation with the Danish authorities under the aegis of the European Commission.
The ICAC suspects senior executives of the CPB to have connived with the former director of contracting company PADCO, Alain Hao Thyn Voon and his financial director, Patrice Lung Lam Hing to make tailor-made tenders and to escalate the costs of projects. The excess money was allegedly used to bribe CPB and government officials.
At least four people, including PADCO executives and ex-Minister Swalay Kasenally have been arrested during the investigation – and released on bail.
The CPB has, over the last year, dealt with 77 tender exercises amounting to Rs 23 billion.
The bribe money, alleged to have been shared among the officials and the former ex-employees of PADCO, is estimated to be around Rs 300 million.
