Fire vehicle probe ends
The panel set up to probe the controversial Bt6.68-billion deal to buy fire-engines and fire-boats will announce its findings today, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday.
No matter what conclusion is drawn by the panel, which was set up by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and chaired by former National Institute of Development Administration rector Boonserm Veesakul, the BMA will contact the Interior Ministry to discuss finding a solution, Apirak said.As to whether the BMA will take ownership of the boats and vehicles, Apirak said he would wait for the report from another committee, led by his deputy Wallop Suwandee. However, a source said that panel would not officially announce its findings but would submit its report to Apirak. The panel has been investigating the BMA deal to buy fire-engines and fire-boats from Austrian manufacturer Steyr Daimler Puch since February. The panel's previous unofficial findings reportedly said the fire-engines were 50-per-cent over-priced, causing the BMA to lose interest totalling Bt2.6 billion; that at least two items listed were manufactured in Thailand; and that the purchase was done in haste with disregard to the tax burden, causing the BMA to shoulder about Bt1.3 billion in taxes.
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