Former Prime Minister Samak Still Facing Corruption Charges

[sriracha john]

AEC adds 3 parties to Bangkok fire trucks and boats purchase scandal

A committee to deliberate on the Bangkok purchase of fire trucks and boats controversy headed by Assets Examination Committee (AEC) Chairman Nam Yimyaem revealed that an emergency meeting was called to finalize the matter. The committee has asked the AEC to convene to approve its conclusion of the case with Mr. Nam not being able to divulge the full details of the report.

The AEC Chairman did however reveal that the committee voted unanimously to add 3 parties to the list of conspirators in the case.

The first two are former Finance Minister Wattana Muangsook and former Director of the Foreign Trade Department Rachane Potsuntorn on charges of failing to conform to the Government Agency Quoting Act. The third party involved is the Steiyer Company which has been charged with creating a contract with ulterior motives.

Governor of Bangkok Apirak Kosayothin however has been absolved from involvement in the case with the AEC stating a lack of evidence. As for the vehicles themselves, the AEC will submit a letter to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to allow it to decide whether it will continue contracts to purchase the boats and trucks or not.

- ThaiNews

----------------------------------------------------

Addendum, this is not all that Wattana is being looked at. Seems no matter which hat he was wearing at the time in the Thaksin Cabinet, he had his fingers firmly entrenched in the pie:

investigate Wattana Muangsuk, former Social Development and Human Security Minister, in alleged demands for bribes relating to the 8.9 Billion Baht Baan Ua-arthorn low-cost housing project

- Bangkok Post / Dec. 27, 2007

The panel has already charged Watana Muangsook, the former Social Development and Human Security Minister, with corruption for allegedly taking an 80 million baht kickback from a contractor for another project under the scheme.

- Bangkok Post / Jan. 15, 2008

Watana Muangsook

UA ATHORN

AEC indicts ex-minister for bribery

Evidence shows Watana and others received kickbacks

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1747851

Edited March 12, 2008 by sriracha john

[farang prince]

NCCC to pursue PM Samak in Bangkok waste case

The Spokesman for the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), Mr. Klanarong Chantik (กล้านรงค์ จันทิก), affirms that the establishment of a special committee concerning newly appointed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s involvement in a waste disposal facility scandal will continue unimpeded by Mr. Samak’s new title.

The scandal involves over nine billion baht and arose from when Mr. Samak was serving as the Bangkok Governor. Mr. Klanarong says the continued pursuit of the case is not a signifier of bias or disrespect to Mr. Samak but it is the NCCC's duty. He says the Office of the National Police and Assets Examination Committee (AEC) have submitted the case to the NCCC, and his commission is obligated to investigate it.

The NCCC Spokesman says a special committee will be established to discuss the matter and if no grounds for further investigation are found, the case will be dismissed.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 January 2008

How can anyone be shocked by this? Thailand is listed as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia by a survey of businessmen conducted by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy. The top three were China, Thailand and the Philippines. Great company, eh? Considering that China executes corrupt officials (when it suits them), it makes you wonder what kinds of sanctions Thailand extends to its corrupt officials (oh that's right, they are allowed to stay in office, or welcomed home after buying English soccer clubs and they get to keep their ill-gotten money). Wow, what a country!!!!

[sriracha john]

Self-suspension pressures government

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin's decision yesterday to suspend himself from duty for his alleged link to the fire-truck scandal appears to put pressure on the government, with certain Cabinet members having recently insisted on staying on in office despite potentially facing graft trials.

Apirak explained that his self-imposed suspension was aimed at ensuring transparency and an investigation that is free from intervention.

On Wednesday, the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) resolved to charge six people for their alleged involvement with the scandal, including Apirak and three other senior officials relating to the purchase contract. That was in addition to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who was earlier charged by the AEC among the first batch of suspects.

The controversial purchase deal was signed when Samak was Bangkok governor.

Samak rebutted the charges in the pre-trial preparations. He said earlier that if both of them were charged in the scandal, Apirak should be the one suspended from duty, as the governor was the current office holder.

MP Jatuporn Phrompan, from the ruling People Power Party, said he viewed the governor's self-imposed suspension as an attempt to put pressure on the prime minister. *boy, can't get anything past this sharp guy* :D

"It's a move to sacrifice a knight for the king. This is a well-planned political ploy," he said. "In fact, this will benefit Apirak in two ways: he'll have more time for campaigning for the governor's seat, and his image will be a lot better."

The gubernatorial election is expected in October.

Apirak said in a press conference later that his decision to suspend himself was to show his accountability over the matter, and that he did not intend to cause any political repercussions.

Earlier, the AEC filed a petition with the Supreme Court against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and 46 other members of his Cabinet for abuse of power involving the introduction of the two- and three-digit lotteries. Those named in the lawsuit include three members of the current Cabinet - Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas.

The government said the affected trio did not need to be suspended from duty because the accused Cabinet no longer exists.

Surapong said yesterday that the governor's decision would not affect him, as Apirak is an active office holder while he is no longer involved with the accused Cabinet. *Say wha'??? He's not involved with the 3 charged members in HIS current Cabinet???* :D

Samak simply smiled when asked to comment about the governor's decision.

Meanwhile, the AEC Chairman, Nam Yimyaem, said Apirak had set a good precedent for Thai politicians. He said the governor did not have to suspend himself from duty as he was merely accused by the AEC, and was not yet formally charged.

He declined to comment on whether Apirak's move would increase the pressure on the prime minister and the three Cabinet members charged in the lottery case.

In a related development, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday praised Apirak, a deputy leader, as "a true Democrat" after the governor announced his decision.

"Apirak has done his best to consult with relevant agencies about the legality of the contract, but he was told to comply with it and had no other options," Abhisit said.

He was referring to Apirak's involvement in making down payments for the fire trucks in spite of irregularities that led to the graft ruling against him.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Court dismisses anti-ASC suit by Samak

The Civil Court on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by PM Samak Sundaravej against two members of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) after it accused him of unlawfully benefiting from fire trucks and boats procurement when he was Bangkok Governor. Samak asked Nam Yimyam and Prasert Boonsri to pay him 50,000 and 10,000 baht respectively for filing the charge against him. The court explained that the two did their job as ASC members, so Samak cannot file cases against the two individually. The purchase deal, signed in 2004 by then outgoing Bangkok Governor Samak, obliged the BMA to purchase 315 fire trucks and 30 boats once the Letter of Credit was opened. The scandal-plagued deal made headlines after it was found all the 315 fire trucks and 30 boats were actually manufactured in Thailand before being sent to Europe for equipment installation and imported back to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126723

[sriracha john]

Fire truck scandal makes Samak reaching deeper in his pockets

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has to pay defence lawyers' fees after losing a court battle as plaintiff suing two graft busters for offending remarks linking him to the fire truck scandal, Assets Examination Committee chairman Nam Yimyaem said on Tuesday.

Instead of winning 328 Million Baht in damages, Samak was ordered by the Civil Court to dole out Bt60,000 in defence costs on top of his legal expenses, Nam said with glee.

Samak sued Nam and investigative panel member Prasert Boonsri for offence committed as state officials to have violated him by linking him to the scandal and accusing him of causing 1.9 Billion Baht damages to the state when he was the Bangkok Governor.

He demanded the two to pay him compensation of 164 Million Baht each.

The court ruled in favour of the defence on grounds that Nam and Prasert made the remarks under the mandate granted to their office.

- The Nation (today)

[sriracha john]

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej

EC Dismisses Complaint over PM's Qualifications

The Election Commission, at its meeting today, has decided to throw out the complaint regarding the qualifications of the prime minister.

Members of today's Election Commission meeting unanimously agreed to throw out the complaints made by Major Nipon Simprayoon and Piroon Charoenwan for the panel to review the qualifications of Prime Minister and Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej.

The two complainants claim Samak lacks the qualifications to become a minister according to the 2007 Constitution as he was elected as a senator in 2006 and was sentenced to two years in jail for defamation. He is currently out on bail while appealing the ruling.

The EC reasoned that the PM does not lack qualifications as he has not been jailed, since the case is still being appealed. Furthermore, the 2007 Constitution allowed senators elected in the 2006 election to run as MP candidates in the 2007 general election.

Regarding the complaint of a conflict of interest involving the premier's TV cooking show, the EC ordered a sub-committee to investigate the case further and report back to the main panel in 15 days.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[sriracha john]

Apirak likely to be spared indictment

Source: Samak involved in fire trucks, boats deal

The ASC sub-panel is likely to spare Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin from indictment in City Hall's fire trucks and boats deal, according to a source at the committee. The sub-panel, led by ASC chairman Nam Yimyaem, investigating the BMA 6.7-Billion-Baht deal, however found PM Samak involved in every step of the deal, said the source. The BMA procured 315 fire trucks and 30 fire boats at an allegedly inflated price. Samak inked the deal on Aug 27, 2004, the last day of his tenure as Bangkok Governor. The sub-panel met yesterday to conclude an indictment of the people implicated based on its findings. The source said: "The sub-panel found Apirak's explanation admissible that he tried to stop the opening of the letter of credit but he was forced to do so by the Interior Ministry." The ministry oversees the BMA. Other people named for their roles in the procurement process include former Interior Minister Pokin Polakul, former Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont, former director of the BMA's Fire and Rescue Department Pol Maj-General Atilak Tanchukiat, former Commerce Minister Watana Muangsuk, former city clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin, former chief of the Foreign Trade Department of the Commerce Ministry Rachen Pojanasunthorn, Steyr Co, the supplier, and its representative Mag Minar.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/18Jun2008_news12.php

[sriracha john]

A real mixed bag that involves several on-going threads...

Constitution Court accepts cases against PM, AEC, others

BANGKOK, June 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Constitution Court accepted on Tuesday charges lodged against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's current status as head of government, plus several other cases.

All nine constitution court judges reached the unanimous decision to admit for their future consideration and ruling the case in which Samak was accused by 29 senators of having assumed the top government post in violation of the constitution, following his alleged involvement in a famous TV culinary show, called ''Tasting 'n' Grumbling.''

In addition, the Constitution Court resolved to admit a case in which the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) was alleged of having performed unconstitutionally since the military junta, which had ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and set up the probe panel, had extended its term until June 2008.

The case had been forwarded from the Supreme Court in charge of lawsuits against persons with political status after the ex-premier had questioned the legality of the AEC.

The Constitution Court also admitted cases in which over 30 senators had accused Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap and Deputy Commerce Minister Wiroon Techapaiboon of having disqualified themselves of their ministerial status because their spouses had allegedly held corporate stocks beyond the legal 5 per cent limit.

[sriracha john]

PM claims about attempts to force him out of office

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has told Thai expats in Guangzhou that there are still attempts to remove him from office and that rumours have spreaded about his imminent arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport upon his return.

Samak's remarks was reported by Thai News Agency on Thursday. Samak is to leave China today for the second leg of his trip to Brunei.

He said his opponents had not abandoned their plans for his removal. They tried to hype up his legal wrangling as cause for him to lose his job, he said.

He said he still has 15 days to submit his defence on his involvement with two cooking shows, denying rumour about the Constitution Court ready for a verdict.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

PM believes movement attempting his ouster remains

CHINA, July 3 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Thursday conceded that there remains a movement of a group of ill-intentioned people trying to remove him from the premiership.

Speaking of the political situation in Thailand, he said the group was still attempting to force his departure from office by releasing a rumour that he would be arrested at Bankok's Suvarnabhumi Airport upon his return from a state visit to Brunei.

Samak said the cases he is facing regarding defamation and the alleged breach of the constitution for hosting a television programme after assuming the premiership are under deliberation in court.

Especially regarding the charter violation case, he still had 15 days to hand over written clarifications to the Constitution Court for its deliberation.

Samak is on the last day of his four-day official visit to China. He is scheduled to visit a fresh market and key places in Guangzhou before leaving for Brunei by a Thai Royal Air Force aircraft.

[sriracha john]

PM claims there are efforts to remove him from post

PM Samak Sundaravej claimed Thursday there are efforts trying to remove him from post by circulating negative rumours about him. Samak said he has heard a rumour that he would be arrested at the Suvarnabhumi airport after returning from Brunei, and insisted that it was just rumour. He also mentioned allegation that he breaches constitution by hosting a cooking show on commercial television as one of those efforts. Samak was currently on a formal visit to China, and was scheduled to fly to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128688

[sriracha john]

Samak fears arrest upon return home

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday said he had heard he might be arrested on his return to Thailand today.

"The reason why I speak today is that I may have no chance to talk when I have to leave office," the prime minister told reporters covering his visit to China.

He did not elaborate on whether he was referring to a coup attempt.

Samak left China for Brunei later yesterday and is scheduled to return to Thailand late this afternoon.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Samak claims plot to seize him at airport Friday

PM Samak yesterday claimed someone had plotted to capture him the instant his plane made a landing at Bangkok airport today. According to Samak, someone possibly in the military planned to arrest him when he returned today from Brunei, which he is visiting on the return leg from his four-day visit to China. He was speaking on the last day of his visit to China before travelling to Brunei. A source close to the PM said Samak received an intelligence report that a military officer hatched a plot to capture him at the airport and remove him from power, in a similar manner to the 1991 military coup which successfully overthrew then PM Chatichai Choonhavan. Some reports suggested the plane carrying the PM and his delegation would be rerouted to land at Suvarnabhumi airport instead of the Wing 6 airstrip at air force headquarters.

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http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128698

[Tony Clifton]

Samak fears arrest upon return home

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday said he had heard he might be arrested on his return to Thailand today.

"The reason why I speak today is that I may have no chance to talk when I have to leave office," the prime minister told reporters covering his visit to China.

He did not elaborate on whether he was referring to a coup attempt.

Samak left China for Brunei later yesterday and is scheduled to return to Thailand late this afternoon.

- The Nation

Another fine example of how this bunch of criminals and thugs don't mind smearing their own country while abroad and speaking to foreign media. Add this traitor to the long already list.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[h90]

Samak fears arrest upon return home

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday said he had heard he might be arrested on his return to Thailand today.

"The reason why I speak today is that I may have no chance to talk when I have to leave office," the prime minister told reporters covering his visit to China.

He did not elaborate on whether he was referring to a coup attempt.

Samak left China for Brunei later yesterday and is scheduled to return to Thailand late this afternoon.

- The Nation

Another fine example of how this bunch of criminals and thugs don't mind smearing their own country while abroad and speaking to foreign media. Add this traitor to the long already list.

Here Samak the clown is right. There are fears of a coup from Thaksins last option to avoid the courts. Make a coup and promise new elections in 6 months (so itnernational damage isn't much) and cancel all the court cases.

But I have doubts that it is possible..... that wouldn't accepted by anyone.

[Old Man River]

My reasons for the coup are a lot simpler - there was public discontent bordering on disorder, and for a good reason, members of the military stepped in to rectify the situation. All other reasons are secondary, icings on the cake, side effects.

Come on Plus. Immediately following the coup you said something completely different. Were you wrong then or are you wrong now? I think the latter.

[sriracha john]

Much to everyone's disappointment, Samak was NOT busted today... seems to be just another case of him talking out of his ass...

Update: PM returns to Bangkok without problem

PM Samak Sundaravej returned to Thailand from an official visit to China and Brunei on Friday afternoon. His arrival came a day after he claimed that someone had plotted to capture him the instant his plane made a landing at Bangkok airport. He told reporters that someone phoned him about the rumour, and insisted that he did not make up the news himself. Samak also appeared to be displeased when reporters asked when he is

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128717

=============================================

WHO phoned him???

Edited July 4, 2008 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

Must be Chalerm who also claimed many times he hard heard of bomb threats against the latest PAD protests.

[Plus]

My reasons for the coup are a lot simpler - there was public discontent bordering on disorder, and for a good reason, members of the military stepped in to rectify the situation. All other reasons are secondary, icings on the cake, side effects.

Come on Plus. Immediately following the coup you said something completely different. Were you wrong then or are you wrong now? I think the latter.

You are comparing my five months old quote to an unquoted opinion from nearly two years ago? I can't remember what it was for the life of me.

Are you tryig to catch me or examining the evolution of my thoughts? I'm too lazy to do it myself, generally speaking later ideas must take precedence over earlier ones, you know, hindsight thinking and added perspective and so on.

[Old Man River]

My reasons for the coup are a lot simpler - there was public discontent bordering on disorder, and for a good reason, members of the military stepped in to rectify the situation. All other reasons are secondary, icings on the cake, side effects.

Come on Plus. Immediately following the coup you said something completely different. Were you wrong then or are you wrong now? I think the latter.

You are comparing my five months old quote to an unquoted opinion from nearly two years ago? I can't remember what it was for the life of me.

Are you trying to catch me or examining the evolution of my thoughts? I'm too lazy to do it myself, generally speaking later ideas must take precedence over earlier ones, you know, hindsight thinking and added perspective and so on.

Not catch you nor examine the evolution of your thoughts. Just remind you that you were so right at the beginning. The coup was never about stamping out corruption. If it was, the military would not have been so quick to up their ante in the money game when they were in power. It was always about control and power. Even the CDS in its first days was open about this, but over time, their rhetoric changed to what they thought would persuade people to vote against Thaksin's incarnates. It didn't work.

[Plus]

You are saying that right after the coup I said it was not about stamping out corruption but only money and power? I seriously doubt I really said that. I still think that whatever gains the military made were a trade off for their full cooperation with coup makers (things like increased budget).

Very few people were privvy to the coup plans, but it's inevitable that there were many hangers-on afterwards, and they all wanted to exploit sudden opportunity (lower down the chain, like Don Muang crew).

And, of course, Sonthi relinquished power as early as possible.

>>>>

They just couldn't stand Thaksin anymore, for millions of reasons. Should they have acted on their impulse? Everyone has a different opinion on that. I think if not for them, there's no chance in hel_l Thaksin would have been indicted and brought to trial.

Rule of law has somewhat been restored, and I place higher value on that than on "democratic process".

[sriracha john]

Apparently Xinhua, The Nation, Bangkok Post, Thai News Agency, ThaiNews, and Daily Xpress (among others) all got it wrong...

Samak denies he started rumours of plot to arrest him at airport

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Sunday denied that he had started false rumours about a plot to arrest him at the Don Muang International airport after he returned from a trip to China and Brunei.

Samak said he was simply answering reporters' questions about a legal case against him and he told that if he failed to answer a summon order, he would be arrested in line with normal procedure.

But his wordings were incorrectly reported that he talked about a plot to arrest him at the airport upon his arrival, Samak said.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

a NEW corruption case to be added to Samak's list...

Japan firm accused of bribing Bangkok officials

Reports from Tokyo on Monday say a former executive of Nishimatsu Construction Co. has told Tokyo prosecutors the firm gave a bribe of more than 400 Million Yen (125.5 Million Baht) to Bangkok city officials in return for "favors" connected to awarding a tunnel project contract in 2003. The report did not name any Thai officials, but said they worked at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). In 2003, Samak Sundaravej, now the PM, headed the BMA as elected Governor. Quoting "sources," the Japanese reports said the former executive of the major contractor is being investigated by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for bringing in around 100 Million Yen from overseas without reporting it to customs. During the investigation of the alleged currency violation, other cases have popped up. The Bangkok case involves a 2 Billion Baht contract to bore a tunnel in northern Bangkok, as part of an anti-flooding project. Nishimatsu and a local firm - unnamed in the Tokyo reports - won the contract in September 2003. Bangkok-based staff of Nishimatsu in Thailand prepared bribes after consulting executives of Nishimatsu's Thai partner, the Japanese reports said. "The payments were apparently made to (Thai) government officials and officials in charge of overseeing bids for the project just before and after the project was awarded," said a report by Kyodo news agency. The Tokyo press reports said that the Nishimatsu executive now under police questioning in Japan claims he was not directly involved in bribing the officials, but "in return for favors to secure the tunnel construction project, the company paid a total of more than 400 Million Yen to Thai government officials.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128745

Edited July 7, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Apparently Xinhua, The Nation, Bangkok Post, Thai News Agency, ThaiNews, and Daily Xpress (among others) all got it wrong...

Samak denies he started rumours of plot to arrest him at airport

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Sunday denied that he had started false rumours about a plot to arrest him at the Don Muang International airport after he returned from a trip to China and Brunei.

(among others) included the Thai press...

Thai Rath [Thai newspaper] comment:

Why did PM Samak tell the media about an alleged plot, which he later denied, by a group of people to capture him at Suvarnabhumi airport last week? Samak must have foreseen the ramifications of his revelation, which comes amid mounting political pressure against him and former PM Thaksin. As well, Samak is fighting a defamation suit filed against him by former Deputy Bangkok Governor Samart Ratchapolsit. A court found Samak guilty, and the case is now before the Appeals Court. If the guilty verdict is upheld, Samak will have to seek bail within 24 hours. If, for any reason, Samak cannot get bail in time, he could conceivably land in jail and lose his prime ministership. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has rejected Thaksin's request to travel overseas because he would be out of the country during hearings on the Ratchadapisek land purchase case. It seems courts are getting tough with politicians involved in high-profile cases. The Supreme Court recently sentenced 3 of Thaksin's lawyers to 6 months in jail for giving a pastry box filled with cash to court officials. The alignment of the stars are apparently not in favour of

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/070708_News/07Jul2008_news55.php

Edited July 7, 2008 by sriracha john

[Old Man River]

You are saying that right after the coup I said it was not about stamping out corruption but only money and power? I seriously doubt I really said that.

You have a short memory. Your initial comments reflected the same as many well respected analysts from offshore and wasn't specifically about money and power either. Anyway, that was then.

[sriracha john]

a NEW corruption case to be added to Samak's list...

Japan firm accused of bribing Bangkok officials

Reports from Tokyo on Monday say a former executive of Nishimatsu Construction Co. has told Tokyo prosecutors the firm gave a bribe of more than 400 Million Yen (125.5 Million Baht) to Bangkok city officials in return for "favors" connected to awarding a tunnel project contract in 2003. The report did not name any Thai officials, but said they worked at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). In 2003, Samak Sundaravej, now the PM, headed the BMA as elected Governor. Quoting "sources," the Japanese reports said the former executive of the major contractor is being investigated by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for bringing in around 100 Million Yen from overseas without reporting it to customs. During the investigation of the alleged currency violation, other cases have popped up. The Bangkok case involves a 2 Billion Baht contract to bore a tunnel in northern Bangkok, as part of an anti-flooding project. Nishimatsu and a local firm - unnamed in the Tokyo reports - won the contract in September 2003. Bangkok-based staff of Nishimatsu in Thailand prepared bribes after consulting executives of Nishimatsu's Thai partner, the Japanese reports said. "The payments were apparently made to (Thai) government officials and officials in charge of overseeing bids for the project just before and after the project was awarded," said a report by Kyodo news agency. The Tokyo press reports said that the Nishimatsu executive now under police questioning in Japan claims he was not directly involved in bribing the officials, but "in return for favors to secure the tunnel construction project, the company paid a total of more than 400 Million Yen to Thai government officials.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=128745

BMA asks Japan to aid bribery probe

Reports of pay-off to secure tunnel contract

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will send a letter to the Japanese Ambassador and a Japanese contractor seeking information about an alleged 125-million-baht bribe paid to senior BMA officials. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin has launched an investigation into the matter, which came to light during a court case in Japan. He said yesterday the letter will be sent to the Japanese Ambassador and Nishimatsu Construction Co, asking for a response in 7 days so that the BMA can complete its investigation ASAP. The Japan Times and Japan Today newspapers reported that Nishimatsu Construction admitted to Japanese prosecutors that it had given a bribe of more than 400 million yen to ''Thai officials'' to win a drainage tunnel project in Bangkok. City Hall would certainly forward its findings to the NCCC, he said.

PM Samak and Deputy PM Sahas Banditkul declined to comment yesterday on the corruption reports. Samak was Bangkok Governor and Sahas was Deputy Governor when City Hall implemented the 5 km long drainage tunnel project. Completed last year, the 2.09-Billion-Baht tunnel stretches from Lat Phrao to the Saen Saep canal. Asked for his reaction to the bribe allegation he refused to talk and walked straight to the cabinet secretariat building, the venue of yesterday's meeting. Sahas also arrived for the cabinet meeting. Unusually, his limousine went directly to the underground parking space of the cabinet secretariat building and he walked hurriedly to the meeting. Normally, Sahas walks from the command building to the secretariat building for Tuesday cabinet meetings. ''I'm busy,'' he told reporters yesterday.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/090708_News/09Jul2008_news05.php

[sriracha john]

DSI mulls probe

DSI Serious Crime Chief awaiting approval from higher up to start work

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will soon decide whether it will probe allegations that Thai officials received a 125-million-baht bribe from a Japanese firm.

Colonel Piyawat Kingket, who heads the DSI Office of Serious Crime, yesterday revealed that he was in the process of asking for the DSI Director-General Tawee Sodsong's approval to act into the case.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Nishimatsu Construction bribed Thai officials to get a tunnel construction project from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

"The case is similar to the bribery at the Tourism Authority of Thailand. So, my office has to take actions or else we may be charged with dereliction of duty," Piyawat said.

Tawee said DSI would be able to launch a probe into the allegation surrounding the BMA project only if there were solid evidences that the bribe really took place.

The bribe was allegedly made in 2003 when Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was serving as the Bangkok Governor.

In response to the bribery scandal, officials from the Office of National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) yesterday asked for BMA's cooperation in the probe. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said the BMA is also investigating the bribery allegation on its own. "When we finish our probe, we will forward relevant information to NCCC," Apirak said.

Chanchai Witoonpanyakij, who heads the BMA Drainage and Sewerage Department, said he would today submit relevant information to Bangkok City Clerk Pongsak Semsant. The tunnel-construction project is under the supervision of Chanchai's office.

NCCC will convene a meeting today, but it remains unclear whether the meeting's agenda will include this bribery case.

- Daily Xpress

[Plus]

"People will sue us for dereliction of duty" - is that his most compelling reason to get out of bed in the morning?

[sriracha john]

PM Asked to Clarify BMA Bribery on His TV Show

Deputy Secretary-General of the Democrat Party Thepthai Senpong asked Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to explain on his TV show on Channel 11 about the bribery case related to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's, or BMA's, tunnel project in 2003.

A Japanese firm recently claimed that Thai officials took bribes of 125 million baht from the company in return for being awarded the tunnel project.

Thepthai said the Prime Minister should clarify as he was the Bangkok Governor when the bidding for this tunnel project was approved, adding that his talk show tomorrow morning on Channel 11 is the best opportunity for him to clarify himself.

Thepthai insists that the Democrat Party has no plans to discredit the Prime Minister, but that the story was brought up in Japanese newspapers, reporting that a former executive of Nishimatsu Construction admitted to prosecutors that the Japanese firm bribed Thai officials to win the contract.

The Democrat Party also urged related agencies, such as The National Counter Corruption Commission and the Auditor-General Office, to investigate the case quickly.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Well, he followed the Dems advice and "clarified" the situation on his show... sort of.. apparently it's just the "regular" way of doing things...

Samak denies irregularities in BMA flood-easing tunnel project

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Sunday denied that there were irregularities in a flood-easing tunnel project commenced when he was governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

He was reacting to reports that an executive of a Japanese construction firm had admitted to Japanese prosecutor that he had paid a bribe to Thai officials in return for favours connected to the tunnel project.

Samak said he did not explain the issue during the week because he did not trust the Thai media so he waited to give the explanation during his live talk programme.

He said the project had been ruled by the Administrative Court as being transparent after a Thai construction firm sued the BMA and Japanese firm as violating the law against collusion to win government's projects. Samak said the BMA also managed to negotiate for reduction of the construction cost so there were no bribery in the project.

- The Nation