The state auditor has indicated there are possible irregularities in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) 39-million-baht light display.
In an interview Tuesday with the Inside Thailand radio programme, Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas said the agency is conducting an initial probe into the "Bangkok Light of Happiness" New Year illumination event and has found some things amiss.
First, the bid winner, Curio Tour and Travel Co, allegedly installed the lighting before the contract was signed while it allegedly subcontracted the work to a third party, he said.
Staff from the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) found no engineers during the site inspection and site workers questioned by his staff did not know who their employer was, Mr Pisit said.
"They told us they just helped out. They are friends [with the contractor]. When we asked to see a work contract, they couldn't produce one.
"It's quite clear they are subcontracted [by the bid winner to install lighting]. We checked out the company [Curio] and it didn't appear to have any of the materials needed to organise the exhibition," he said.
Mr Pisit said OAG staff are still gathering information including who the subcontractor is. He also said the display does not seem to comply with the terms of reference which require it to show "Thai-ness".
City Hall's light exhibition is drawing attention from some anti-graft agencies including the Office of the Ombudsman which last week urged people who are privy to details of irregular spending on it to come forward and make complaints.
The 'Bangkok Light of Happiness' New Year illumination event at Lan Khon Muang in front of City Hall draws a large crowd as evening falls. The 39-million baht event, criticised for its lack of cost-effectiveness, runs until Jan 31 from 5.30pm to midnight.
The light show, which runs until Jan 30 at Lan Khon Muang, the square in front of City Hall's offices on Din So Road, is being criticised for being "rushed" and "extravagant".
Some critics suspect bid rigging, partly because the bid winner only entered the light exhibition business in September.
Bangkok deputy governor Amorn Kijchawengkul has repeatedly defended the project, saying the spending was transparent while the bidding process was above board.
According to Mr Pisit, Curio Tour and Travel Co signed the contract with the BMA to organise an event to promote tourism for City Hall, not just to put together a light show.
"We thought the company was hired to do light work. In fact it was contracted to organise the event, which consists of holding the illumination event and doing a PR campaign," he said.