Dsi Attacked Over 'Unfair Intervention': Flood Donation, Bts Contract Cases

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DSI attacked over 'unfair intervention'

Thanatpong Kongsai,

Kanittha Thepjorn

The Nation

Party up in arms over handling of flood donation, BTS contract cases

BANGKOK: -- Prominent members of the Democrat Party are preparing to take action against the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) over its questionable handling of two cases related to the main opposition party.

One of the cases concerns donations for flood victims that were directed via the Democrat Party's bank account in late 2010, when the party was in government.

The other surrounds the awarding of a Bt190billion contract by Krungthep Thanakom, the legal investment arm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), to Bangkok Mass Transit System - the current operator of the Skytrain system - this year.

At the helm of the BMA is Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a longtime and key member of the Democrats. Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtaey yesterday urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok and deputy prime ministers overseeing security matters to order the DSI to stop harassing the Democrat Party.

"The DSI has abused its authority. I believe it is trying to look for whatever grounds [it can find] to get the Democrat Party dissolved," Sathit said.

He added that the agency had been investigating the donations for flood victims that were made via the party's bank account in late 2010, even though this was not yet officially deemed to be a special case.

The DSI started looking into the matter after it was revealed that East Water Company, a staterun enterprise, was among the donors. Staterun businesses are not allowed by law to donate money to a political party, regardless of the purpose.

"I plan to call on the Office of the Ombudsman and the House committee on justice and human rights to investigate the DSI over its intervention in the donation case," Sathit said.

Many donors have also been summoned by the DSI and they feel some of the questions they have been asked are inappropriate, he said, adding, "Some of them called me and cried. They fear they will be harassed."

Asawas Apaiwong, a legal adviser to Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon, yesterday said Sukhumbhand was preparing to file a complaint against the DSI with the National AntiCorruption Commission, alleging that the agency had abused its authority.

"The legal team has been instructed to prepare relevant documents," Asawas said. The move is related to the DSI's intervention in the Skytrain contract case.

Asawas said the BMA had been summoned by 12 agencies and committees to provide an explanation about the contract, but only the DSI was continuing to comment publicly on the matter, and in a way that damaged the BMA's reputation.

"The DSI is clearly trying to include the Skytrain contract as a special case," he said. "But we are worried that the DSI will unfairly rule on the case."

DSI chief Tharit Pengdit recently said Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit had confirmed that the authority to award the Skytrain contract lay with him, and not with the BMA or Krungthep Thanakom.

The DSI board has not yet decided whether to include the East Water donation and Skytrain contract as special cases.

However, word has been going around for a while that the DSI will act against the Democrat Party.

-- The Nation 2012-08-09

[scotbeve]

The Dems??? How absurd!! It could never be corruption with the Dems. SUE them Mark!!!

[OzMick]

The Dems??? How absurd!! It could never be corruption with the Dems. SUE them Mark!!!

Strangely enough, it seems some donors wishing to give to flood victims agree with you. The question doesn't seem to be that any of the funds went missing, only that it shouldn't have been channeled via a political party.

Which is not the same as questions asked about the later floods.

[Bluespunk]

This is what happens when you have a system of politicised law enforcement. Great when you are the piper and call the tunes, but not so much when there is a change.

[surangw]

Some one's undies in a bunch because they did not get their "cut" of the funds?

[Thai at Heart]

Unfair investigation.

What a concept

[rubl]

With the DSI attacked by Pheu Thai, Democrats, UDD and PAD they're obviously doing things right or wrong.

I like to be sure of "facts" before I quote some here

[jerrysteve]

Sounds like someone didn't get paid off, and if they did get paid off, it was too little in their view to satisfy their appetite.

[metisdead]

Some off topic nonsense posts and replies have been removed.

[GiHadOrange]

Some one's undies in a bunch because they did not get their "cut" of the funds?

No, it is pretty simple. It is against the law.

The DSI started looking into the matter after it was revealed that East Water Company, a staterun enterprise, was among the donors. Staterun businesses are not allowed by law to donate money to a political party, regardless of the purpose.

And i think there a couple of good reasons why that is against the law and i doubt that the investigations only started because someone didn't got his cut.

[metisdead]

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