Fire-trucks case set to go again

Apirak Kosayodhin

The National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) is going to resubmit its recommendation that many highprofile politicians be prosecuted for their role in the controversial firevehicle deal.

The implicated politicians include former Bangkok governors Samak Sundaravej and Apirak Kosayodhin, former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula, and former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont.

"We will forward our recommendation as well as our report on the case to the AttorneyGeneral next week," NACC member Wicha Mahakhun said yesterday.

If the AttorneyGeneral agrees to the recommendation, the accused politicians will be tried at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

This case concerns a Bt6.68billion deal to buy fire vehicles from an Austrian supplier and centres on a memorandum of understanding signed by Bhokin and the thenAustrian Ambassador to Thailand in 2003.

Samak, as a caretaker Bangkok governor, later signed a purchase contract. After being elected as Samak's successor, Apirak showed reluctance to go ahead with the purchase but finally opened a letter of credit for it.

The letter of credit allowed the purchase contract to take full effect.

Several factfinding committees found that the fire vehicles purchased under the deal were overpriced.

Late last year, Apirak stepped down as Bangkok governor because the NACC recommended that he be prosecuted.

However, the Office of the AttorneyGeneral suggested that the investigative report needed more documentary evidence and witnesses.

"We've completely followed the suggestion. So, we are going to for¬ward the case to the AttorneyGeneral again," Wicha said yesterday.

In a related development, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra expressed confidence that the central government was going to waive tariffs on the imported fire vehicles.

"When the Fire Police Division imported fire vehicles, it was not required to pay tariffs. So, I think the same rule should apply here," Sukhumbhand said.

The Fire Police Division is no longer in operation as its responsibility has been transferred to other authorities, including the BMA.

The BMA is now preparing to negotiate with the Austrian supplier on how to solve problems stemming from the controversial deal.

On Wednesday, Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukvejvorakij said she would ask the central government to honour its promise to partially cover the cost of fire trucks bought from the Austrian company.

"The government pledged to cover 60 per cent of the cost," Malinee said.