We have to pay up :Apirak

Published on August 15, 2007

Apirak was defending his order for payment of Bt777.44 million to Austrian manufacturer Steyr Daimler Puch on August 10, saying the BMA would breach the deal if it refused to make the payment.He said a factfinding committee comprising legal experts from seven government agencies and independent bodies had confirmed to him that all contract conditions in the deal were legitimate and binding on the BMA.

Apirak said the BMA had stated in a clause attached with payment documents that it reserved its right to demand that all the money received by Steyr be returned to the BMA through lawsuit if the deal were later voided by Thai authorities on the grounds of corruption.

The governor said he had informed Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya of the reason the BMA had to comply with the deal. Out of the entire project value of Bt6.687 billion, the first payment of Bt780 million was made on February 10.

The Nation