GUAM. DFS Guam has filed a new case against the Guam International Airport Authority (GIAA) in the Superior Court, accusing the authority of being an “active participant” in alleged misconduct during the selection of bidders for the duty free contract at AB Won Pat International.
According to a report by Guampdn.com, verified by The Moodie Report, DFS brought the issue back to court after the island’s Office of Public Accountability (OPA) declined to accept the retailer’s procurement appeal, citing a shortage of resources and time.
In its initial case before the Superior Court of Guam, DFS was required to bring its complaint to the OPA. But Public Auditor Doris Brooks told DFS to take the case back to court.
As reported, in May last year GIAA awarded the concession to Lotte Duty Free, which has subsequently begun trading. In its complaint, former incumbent DFS repeated allegations that Lotte improperly gave gifts – including a Coach bag and bags of facial cream and other cosmetics.
DFS also noted the airport’s role in the alleged misconduct, saying GIAA had deployed “every delay tactic in the book” to deter the retailer’s protests. DFS says the authority should instead have held off from awarding the contract until the protest was resolved.
DFS has asked for an investigation by federal authorities, and a re-bid observed by an independent monitor.
Lotte legal counsel Cesar Cabot was quoted as saying the DFS case was “too little, too late”.
