Samak could face charges

"The OAG has asked police to report investigation results within 90 days," a wellinformed source at the OAG revealed on Monday.

According to the source, the OAG has found convincing evidence Samak and senior officials at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) abused their authority in hiring private companies to carry out waste management in 2003.

The hire contract was worth Bt9.58 billion but allegedly caused the state to lose money.

Deputy Auditor General Pisit Leelavachiropas had sent an urgent letter last week to acting national police chief General Seripisut Temiyavej, recommending criminal proceedings against Samak and other senior officials, the source said.

The officials were BMA Refuse Disposal Division director Adisak Witsawapaisan, BMA Public Cleansing Department deputy director Akradej Homsetthi, deputy city clerk Chaiyuth na Nakhon, who oversees the department, and deputy city clerk Ponglak Wasiksiri.

All of them already retired.

Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Bannasophit Mekwichai said BMA would wait to see OAG documents first before deciding whether to cancel the projects.

by Bancha Khangkhan

Jeerawan Prasomsap

The Nation