TRT councillors cry foul over road probes
Thai Rak Thai city councillors are set to file a motion with the Bangkok City Assembly to ask Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin to explain why only three officials have been implicated in the corruption scandal involving Bt20-billion worth of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration road projects.
Wisoot Samrajwanich, a Thai Rak Thai councillor for Lat Krabang district, said he would also launch an inquiry to find out why Apirak had set up two sub-panels to reinvestigate the findings of a committee led by former senator Prathin Santipraphob, which identified three BMA officials as potential wrongdoers. "It looks like a time-buying tactic to me," he said. Thai Rak Thai spokesman Sita Dhivari said Apirak's Democrat Party was known for its anti-corruption stand but could find only three BMA officials involved in the scandal. Meanwhile, Democrat executive Yuttapong Charasatien has asked Apirak to investigate whether a Bt6.8-billion purchase contract for mini fire trucks and fire boats was reviewed and certified by the Office of the Attorney General before former governor Samak Sundaravej signed it on August 27, 2004. He said Apirak and the BMA would not be held responsible for the purchase deal if it turned out that the contract was never sent to the OAG as required by the law.
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