More people may be involved in fire truck scandal : NACC

NACC member Methee Khrongkaew said he could not confirm whether two former Bangkok governors were among "new suspects" implicated in the Bt6.68-billion purchase of fire trucks sold to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration by Austrian manufacturer Steyr Daimler Puch.

Six people - and Steyr - have been indicted by the NACC and are due to be prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General.

They are former Bangkok governors Samak Sundaravej and Apirak Kosayodhin; former Thai Rak Thai MPs and Cabinet ministers Bhokin Bhalakula, Pracha Maleenont and Watana Muangsook; and former BMA chief firefighter Athilak Tanchookiat.

Methee said only the group of seven had been indicted to date because the probe was long delayed.

He did not say how many more |people would be implicated by the new evidence.

Despite legal squabbles and unsettled contract conditions, the BMA has |decided to pay Bt743 million to Steyr in an instalment in August.

Under the deal, the entire project cost of Bt6.68 will be paid in nine instalments, each of Bt743 million. A BMA source said Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra would visit the US for two days from Monday.

He has a meeting with Steyr in Washington DC to discuss the matter and settle conditions outstanding in the procurement contract.

A large number of fire trucks and equipment have been handed over to the BMA but none are commissioned for use, as they have been confiscated for evidence by the NACC.