Tarit apologises to angry police chief over summons

National police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdit are reported to have reconciled, following acrimony over the DSI's plan to summons Adul over the controversial police station project.

On Tuesday, Adul expressed his displeasure, insisting he wasn't involved in the case and warned the DSI to have complete evidence before calling on him for testimony. Yesterday Tarit expressed concern over a possible DSI-police conflict about the project probe which would affect the justice procedure. He apologised to Adul and insisted he had no intention of tarnishing the police force over this case.

Adul said he harboured no hard feelings and thanked Tarit for understanding. He said the two agencies could talk and co-operate.

Meanwhile, former acting police chief Pol General Pateep Tanprasert yesterday produced documents to explain to DSI about the much-delayed project to build 396 police stations, worth Bt5.84 billion, as well as 163 police flats, worth Bt3.7 billion.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged Tarit to go ahead with the probe to demonstrate that everyone was under the same law. He said it seemed to him that Tarit's treatment of Adul was less severe than that Tarit handed out to Abhisit and fellow Democrat politicians who, despite cooperating with the DSI, were severely treated.

Abhisit said he could not understand why Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen had not explained clearly his involvement in the issue. He said Pongsapat knew he'd been the one proposing the hiring of PCC Development and Construction Co and thought that such action was legal.

Abhisit said this case had revealed the political agenda being taken against his group. The DSI should maintain its credibility after stating the law had been violated. If this was true, the person who had proposed the project was Pongsapat. Therefore Pongsapat should receive the same treatment that Abhisit and his colleagues had received.

Democrat MP and Opposition Whip leader Jurin Laksanawisit, in response to Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobumrung's challenge for them to file a motion in the House about the project, said he was willing to take up the challenge. But he thought Chalerm's comment was made merely to avoid embarrassment, because he knew the House meeting was to pass laws, not for considering motions. In the meantime, the opposition would raise the issue tomorrow.