Thailand's DSI Defers Decision On East Water, Skytrain Cases

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DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

DSI defers decision on east water, skytrain cases

ANAPAT DEECHUAY,

SAMATCHA HOONSARA

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) board yesterday postponed making a decision on whether to take up two politically important cases. Both these cases could shake up the Democrat Party and seriously raise political tensions in the country.

One of the cases involves the money the East Water Group deposited in a bank account that the Democrats set up in 2010 to help flood victims.

Since the Democrat Party led the government then, and the government was a major shareholder of East Water, Pheu Thai MPs are insisting that the Democrats violated laws governing donations that can be accepted by political parties.

The second case is related to Krungthep Thanakom (KT)'s decision to award a Bt190-billion contract to BTSC, the operators of the Skytrain system.

KT is the legal investment arm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which is governed by Sukhumbhand Paribatra - a prominent member of the Democrat Party.

This controversial contract has landed both KT and BMA in hot waters.

Several Pheu Thai MPs have been questioning how KT could award a huge contract like this without calling for bids. They have also accused BMA and KT of deliberately bypassing the interior minister and laws in the process.

"If the Democrat Party has not done anything wrong, it does not need to fear anything," Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said before chairing the DSI board meeting yesterday.

However, DSI chief Tarit Pendith said the BMA had asked the DSI to study more data before deciding to officially take up the Skytrain-contract case. Hence, he said, the DSI board had postponed its decision.

"The board is also of the opinion that it should consider the East Water case at the same time," Tarit said.

In a related development, KT is trying to stop the DSI from intervening in the Bt190-billion contract awarded to BTSC.

Yesterday, KT executive Amorn Kitchawengkul showed up at Government House to submit a petition addressed to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who traditionally chairs the DSI board.

He was accompanied by Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomai-piboon's legal adviser Assawas Apaiwong.

Pheu Thai MPs have accused KT and BMA of violating laws by awarding the contract to BTSC and are calling on the DSI to investigate the case.

"These MPs have a hidden agenda and are doing this for their political benefit. Their accusations are groundless," Assawas said, adding that the case was not really under the jurisdiction of the DSI.

"To date, the DSI has released information to the media in a way that can mislead the public into believing that BMA has violated laws," Assawas said, adding that KT had handled the contract in line with laws.

He added that if any agency was going to look into this case, it should be the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Assawas also handed out copies of a 151-page report explaining the contract to reporters at Government House. A member of the team working with PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva accepted the petition filed by Assawas and Amorn.

-- The Nation 2012-06-28

[NCFC]

naughty, naughty democrats....