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Published on March 14, 2008

He announced his decision to suspend himself from duty, with an immediate effect.

Apirak said the AEC had not yet formally charged him with any offence but had only informed him of charges pending a probe by an AEC investigative committee.

He said the circumstances facing him were not within the scope of Article 55 of the National Counter Corruption Act, which stipulates that politicians who are accused of offences must be suspended from duty.

Elected on August 29, 2004, Apirak assigned his deputy, Wallop Suwandee, as acting governor.

He said his deputy or the city clerk would decide whether to revoke the contract to purchase the fire-fighting equipment following the AEC ruling that the contract was invalidated.

Apirak was teary-eyed when he met with many Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials and members of the public who had gathered to offer him their support after he announced his self-imposed suspension.

Meanwhile, the boss of Nathanon Thavisin, former permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), yesterday insisted he would not suspend her from her position of adviser to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry despite her involvement in irregularities relating to the fire-truck scandal.

Minister Sutha Chansaeng said Nathanon's present job had no bearing on the case, which happened when she was city clerk at the BMA.

"Nathanon is advising me on women and children's affairs, and I don't think this has anything to do with the charges raised against her," he said.

Nathanon, previously the BMA's top permanent official, is among the second batch of suspects, which include Apirak and former commerce minister Watana Muangsook from the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

The naming of additional suspects is the fallout from the graft indictments against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who approved the suspicious deal when he was the city governor.

Jeerawan Prasomsap

THE NATION