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Published on September 4, 2007

"We want the results back within two weeks," AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said.

This was the second time the AEC board had refused to accept the investigative conclusion submitted by the panel, which had based its approach to the probe on the assumption that the multi-billion-baht purchase contract was legal.

Chaired by Prasert Boonsri, the panel concluded that there were grounds to believe that five former and incumbent officials acted corruptly in preparing the deal that is estimated to have cost the country Bt1.9 billion.

They are Bhokin Bhalakula, Samak Sundaravej, Police Maj-General Atilak Tanchukiat, Pracha Maleenont and Somsak Khun-ngern.

The deal dates back to 2004 when Bhokin, in his capacity as interior minister, signed an agreement of understanding with the Austrian ambassador to Thailand to buy fire engines, fire boats and other fire-fighting equipment for the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department - a unit of the Bangkok Metropolitan Adminis-tration (BMA). The Interior Ministry oversees the BMA.

Bhokin's then-deputy Pracha Maleenont and assistant secretary Somsak Khun-ngern helped prepare the agreement.

Former Bangkok governor Samak signed the purchase agreement just before his term ended. Austrian company Steyr Daimler Puch is the supplier. Atilak, who heads the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, was also involved.

In its investigation, the Prasert-chaired panel did not name incumbent Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin as a suspect even though Apirak opened the letter of credit for the deal and approved the payment of first two instalments of the deal.

The panel has refused to indict Apirak, citing that the letter of credit had to be opened because the purchase contract was already inked.

Sak yesterday insisted the AEC board believed the purchase contract was illegal and that the investigation should take this point into account.

"After the subcommittee sees this point, it can study more evidence and determine whether any more people should be held responsible for the deal," Sak said.

He said the AEC board's decision should not pose any problem to the Prasert-chaired panel and he insisted that the AEC board did not plan to appoint a new panel to take charge of this case.

AEC chairman Nam Yimyaem said Prasert would not lose face, because there were just some points to be reviewed.

Commenting on the AEC board's latest decision, Prasert said he had done his job transparently and said he would not lose heart.

Budsarakam Sinlapalavan

 Bancha Kaengkan

 The Nation