Thai Airways executive chairman Wallop Bhukkanasut is under growing pressure to quit as the airline's board meets tomorrow to set up a special committee of inquiry into the excess baggage scandal.
Wallop: No calls yet to step down
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij on Tuesday demanded the board thoroughly investigate claims Mr Wallop used his position to force the airline to carry for free excess luggage of about 390 kilogrammes from Japan to Thailand.
A THAI source said the board would consider setting up an inquiry committee tomorrow.
"Someone must be held responsible," THAI chairman Ampon Kitti-ampon said yesterday.
Based on preliminary findings, there appeared to be three people directly involved in the incident, but he declined to identify them.
The allegations came to light when a note criticising the behaviour of a senior executive member circulated among airline staff. Although no names were mentioned in the note, staff were quick to point to Mr Wallop.
It is alleged Mr Wallop and his wife travelled from Tokyo's Narita airport to Suvarnabhumi airport on Nov 14 with more than 40 suitcases weighing 390kg without paying excess weight charges. It should have cost them hundreds of thousands of baht.
The pair were also accused of bypassing customs controls by having the luggage, believed to contain mainly fruits, delivered to the lost-and-found channel at Suvarnabhumi airport.
Mr Wallop has not denied the accusations. He said the extra luggage belonged to a pu yai (senior figure) who asked him to deliver it to Wat Paknam Phasicharoen. The temple denied receiving the luggage.
Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum has given the board the green light to appoint a fact-finding committee to look into the allegations which have been circulating for a week.
Mr Sohpon said yesterday there could be no side-stepping an inquiry and he was obliged to take action in accordance with the findings.
"The matter is to be brought up for the board's consideration when it meets [tomorrow]. It is likely the board will set up a panel to probe the allegations," the source said.
Mr Wallop, who has close connections with Mr Sohpon, has requested leave of absence to allow the board to freely consider the matter.
The source said Mr Ampon has ordered officials to gather information about excess baggage and punitive measures to be submitted to the board meeting.
Mr Sohpon dismissed a call for Mr Wallop to be removed, saying the executive chairman could stay in his job until he might be found to have flouted the regulations.
"Too much talk is not good because it can create conflicts, especially if it is not their business. This can complicate attempts to solve the problem," he said.
Mr Ampon declined to say whether Mr Wallop should step down as a director. "Should Mr Wallop resign? It will depend on the findings ... I am not a judge," Mr Ampon said.
"My greatest concern in this case is whether passenger safety was affected. In any case, we need to review whether our regulations are sufficient. If they are not, then they must be changed."
The probe will focus on whether safety regulations were followed, how the 390kg of baggage was approved for loading on the flight and who was responsible for the excess baggage, he said.