Bangkok Mayor Back At Work; Will Testify April 22 To Graft Probe

Bangkok mayor back at work; will testify April 22 to graft probe

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin returned to work in his Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) municipal offices for the first time Saturday after 15 days' leave, saying that he would file documents before the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) concerning a probe of his activities in relation to alleged firetruck and boat procurement later this month.

Mr. Apirak told journalists that he will prepare the necessary documents and send them to the AEC on April 22 in relation to the controversial case on opening a letter of credit for the purchase.

The Bangkok governor had said earlier that he was ready to clarify his actions and relationship to the matter, as he had worked "with prudence and transparency" since taking office in September 2004.

The case involves the purchase of 315 firefighting trucks and 30 boats at what is alleged to have been an inflated price of Bt6.7 billion .

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was BMA governor at the time of the purchase and Mr. Apirak later signed a letter of credit.

Prime Minister Samak is also under investigation for the case.

BMA Governor Apirak today presided over a religious procession carrying the revered Phra Buddha Sihing statue to four locations, including a children's playground near the BMA office, to enable the public to conduct the traditional sacred ceremony of revering and respecting the image representing the Lord Buddha by pouring water on the statue on the occasion of the Songkran Festival, Thailand's traditional New Year which officially starts Sunday (tomorrow) and ends Tuesday.

The BMA has scheduled a number of traditional Thai Buddhist activities to celebrate the Songkran Festival at its play area, including the offering of alms to 226 Buddhist monks.

--TNA 2008-04-12