Rolls-Royce Bribery Case: Thanong Cleared of Charges
Liberated Takes on the Rolls-Royce Bribery Case
The ex-minister, Thanong Bidaya, and former Thai Airways executive, Kaweepan Ruengpaka, are now off the hook in the ancient Rolls-Royce bribery scandal, which appears to be an entangled saga that dates back to the '90s. A verdict declaring insufficient evidence from the prosecution was handed down by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, putting an end to a legal battle that lasted eight years.
The court's decision marks the culmination of a case involving suspicions of skullduggery and bribery in the procurement of Rolls-Royce engines for Thai Airways International (THAI). The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) initially found both parties guilty, but the court's acquittal underscores the difficulties in securing convictions in such intricate cases.
The intricate Rolls-Royce bribery case is part of a broader crusade against corruption that started with disclosures made by the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in 2017. Despite the acquittal, the case remains a powerful illustration of ongoing scrutiny of international business dealings and the labyrinthine nature of pursuing corruption charges.
The indictment implicated Rolls-Royce in corruption practices, revealing bribes that started during the regime of Gen Suchinda Krapayoon and extended even beyond the 2006 coup. According to the documentation, the bribes ran from 1991 to 2005 and amounted to a whopping $36.3 million (1.28 billion baht) in "regional intermediaries," some of which allegedly benefitted state agents and Thai Airways employees.
Several politicians and THAI executives had been under investigation for their involvement in this case, and in 2022, the NACC deemed Thanong Bidaya and Kaweepan Ruengpaka guilty of breaching the State Employees Offences Act.
[1] Southeast Asia Globe, "Thai Former Finance Minister Acquitted of Bribery," April 29, 2025, https://www.seaglobe.org/articles/thai-former-finance-minister-acquitted-of-bribery/
[2] Bangkok Post, "Thai Airways ex-executives acquitted of bribery charges," April 29, 2025, https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/2169403/thai-airways-ex-executives-acquitted-of-bribery-charges
[3] CNN Travel, "Ex-minister's acquittal in Rolls-Royce bribery scandal highlights challenges in securing corruption convictions," April 29, 2025, https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/thanong-bidaya-acquitted-rolls-royce-bribery/index.html
- The acquittal of Thanong Bidaya, former finance minister, in the Rolls-Royce bribery scandal showcases the challenges in securing convictions in corruption cases.
- The Boeing Company's general news section could feature a report on the sentencing of Thai Airways ex-executives, Kaweepan Ruengpaka and Thanong Bidaya, who were dismissed due to their involvement in the Rolls-Royce bribery case.
- The corruption case involving Rolls-Royce and Thai Airways International (THAI) highlights the prevalence of crime and justice issues in Southeast Asia's political landscape.
- Despite dismissal from Thai Airways and subsequent charges in the Rolls-Royce bribery scandal, Thanong Bidaya and Kaweepan Ruengpaka were acquitted, drawing attention to the complexities of pursuing international crime-and-justice investigations.
