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Published on November 22, 2007

Samak, now leader of People Power Party, assigned lawyer Phichit Chuenban to hear the charges of malfeasance and involvement in unlawful bidding at the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). Phichit said Samak would give make a written response to the charges at a December 4 hearing. Phichit said Samak requested a clear statement from the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) stating exactly the charges filed against him, and for a copy of the entire AEC investigation report into the scandal.

Bhokin acknowledged the same charges in person at the OAG headquarters and said he had nothing personally to do with the procurement deal, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had handled the contract and negotiations.

The former Thai Rak Thai party-list MP said his only role in the deal was his ex-officio supervision over the BMA. He had never seen the detailed contracts between the BMA and Austrian manufacturer Steyr Daimler Puch, he said.

"The only papers I signed was a three-page MOU during a 30-minute session with the Bangkok governor and the Austrian ambassador [Herbert Traxl in 2004], both of whom I have never met earlier," he added.

Bhokin said he would counter the charges before the AEC himself on December 4.

The Nation