Bangkok Governor's Political Future In Jeopardy

[webfact]

Gov's political future in jeopardy
Opas Boonlom,
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai,
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation



DSI summons Sukhumbhand and deputies to hear charges

BANGKOK: -- Despite the endorsement last week, which enables him to take up the Bangkok governor's post for a second time, Sukhumbhand Paribatra's long-term political future and his reign at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration could be affected by several criminal cases and political inquiries, including the much-heralded extension of a BTS concession.

The Department of Special Investigation has summoned him and his deputies to hear their charges next Wednesday.

If the Criminal Court finds him guilty in relation to the BTS concession, it is possible that like his predecessor Apirak Kosayodhin, he too might have to leave office in the middle of his second term. Apirak quit over a National Anti-Corruption Commission verdict over graft allegations related to an expensive BMA-approved 2008 purchase of a large number of fire trucks that were never used.



Sukhumbhand is facing another set of legal problems. The DSI found that he approved the operation of the Sukhumvit Soi85-Soi 107 BTS extension without seeking a nod from the Interior Ministry, just like Apirak gave the BTS Silom-Taksin Bridge extension an okay without ministerial approval.

However, Sukhumbhand may be able to cling on to this post longer than Apirak, because the BTS concession case is undergoing the normal prosecution process - the public prosecutors are expecting a recommendation from the DSI before a time-consuming court trial can kick off. Besides, Apirak quit voluntarily a few months after the NACC found him guilty in the purchase of fire trucks.

The Interior Ministry, meanwhile, is expected to say if it will uphold a 1972 coup-enabled order which forbids the operation of public utilities or services without approval from the ministry and subjects the violators to a year in prison and/or a Bt20,000 fine. In case it opts for this, the DSI claims it will be authorised to take additional action against Sukhumbhand and Apirak.

During Sukhumbhand's first term, the BMA signed a contract with BMA-run Krungthep Thanakom on May 2, 2012, and the following day the company hired BTSC to "further provide" the service until May 3, 2042 for Bt190 billion. In other words, Krungthep Thanakom extended BTSC's current contract, which ends in 2029, by 30 years.

Through the Interior Ministry, the Pheu Thai-run government protested that the BMA contract could be construed as granting approval to a government-granted concession without a nod from the ministry, which violates the coup-enabled order.

BMA and Krungthep Thanakom responded that the contract was not an extension of contract but that the services had been bought and that the BTS was part of BMA's assets made available in the original BTS concession. The BMA also said it could manage its assets on its own, citing a 1985 BMA-enabled regulation, two articles under the Constitution and a 1999 law which promotes and mandates the decentralisation of authorities as reasons and defence.

The BMA also cited a Council of State interpretation that the coup-enabled order was unconstitutional and that the DSI has no jurisdiction over this BTS concession because it involves negligence of duty under the Criminal Code’s Article 157, thus enabling the NACC to handle the case. Another legal interpretation by the Council of State only forbids private businesses from running public utilities or service, but not a state agency or authorities from operating or granting or extending concessions.

The accused in this matter are eight other people, mostly members of the BMA management and senior officials, as well as two entities - the Bangkok Mass Transit System, which runs the BTS train service, and Krungthep Thanakom.

Apart from the BTS concession, Sukhumbhand is facing five other cases related to electoral laws, including the one related to his contributions to the Democrat Party, which is only allowed in the form of a crossed cheque or a bill of exchange. Sukhumbhand and 47 other Democrat MPs, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, made electronic transfers to the party's bank account. The DSI is looking into the case, but the Democrats say it is under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission.

The four other cases are being taken care of by the Election Commission, which has received complaints about Abhisit, Sukhumbhand and a few other Democrats violating electoral laws by making unfavourable statements about Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the Pheu Thai candidate in the March 3 gubernatorial election.


-- The Nation 2013-04-04

[keith101]

the never ending bs of thai politics , so sick of this countries third world attitudes to all things especially politics .they want to be the hub of ASEAN then they need to stop the bs and act more like a smarter country not full of idiots as it is now .

[Locationthailand]

Hands down - the hub of political BS. And of course the PTP led DSI will continue to waste time and harass at the beck and call of a criminal they have yet to incarcerate, thus not allowing the Governor and his team to govern.

[virtualtraveller]

Thaksin is facing a much larger and more serious raft of allegations and he's allowed to run the country. Ignore the DSI, as soon as they get involved, the case becomes a comedy act. Lots of petty complaints all coming from one man, wonder what his financial motive is?

[smutcakes]

He should be more worried about the dodgy fire extinguishers they seem to have bought, it stinks of a typical corrupt purchase- not a good start to his second tenure. Hopefully the relevant authorities will investigate the purchase properly. The bringing on board of the ex deputy police chief commissioner should help.

Typically TVF want to concentrate on Thaksin and PTP and brush any potential misdemeanor of opposition away with flippant comments and smoke and mirror tactics, as per posts 3 & 4. I am not quite sure how they are even relevant to the article.

[OzMick]

So it's only SOME coup-related changes that are bad.

[justathought]

I wonder how much time they really have to get on with the real work when their professional affairs are so riddled with crime.

It appears that they build their political career on corruption and crime so they probably consider their 'real work' as corruption and defending their positions at all costs.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[borisloosebrain]

Apirak was set up. A TRT hatchet job.This reporter. seems a bit hazy on the facts - the fire truck deal was the work of two ministers in Thaksins govt and ex Governor Samak. Then Apirak came into office and didn't want to sign the purchase papers as he smelt a rat but was was instructed to by the Minster for the Interior, dirty Pokin Polakul, thus implicating himself in a scandal which he basically had nothing to do with. So he resigned to take responsibility for his part while Thaksins ministers brought down a popular governor and the guilty parties lived to fight and plunder another day.

[smutcakes]

Apirak was set up. A TRT hatchet job.This reporter. seems a bit hazy on the facts - the fire truck deal was the work of two ministers in Thaksins govt and ex Governor Samak. Then Apirak came into office and didn't want to sign the purchase papers as he smelt a rat but was was instructed to by the Minster for the Interior, dirty Pokin Polakul, thus implicating himself in a scandal which he basically had nothing to do with. So he resigned to take responsibility for his part while Thaksins ministers brought down a popular governor and the guilty parties lived to fight and plunder another day.

Maybe Apirak was to straight for the Democrat party, and now they have the man they need in place.

[bigbamboo]

Coming from England I never thought I'd say this but sometimes there's a lot to be said for an absolute monarchy.

[JetsetBkk]

Coming from England I never thought I'd say this but sometimes there's a lot to be said for an absolute monarchy.

Or benevolent dictator.

Anything's better than this bunch of clowns.

[thaicbr]

Apirak was set up. A TRT hatchet job.This reporter. seems a bit hazy on the facts - the fire truck deal was the work of two ministers in Thaksins govt and ex Governor Samak. Then Apirak came into office and didn't want to sign the purchase papers as he smelt a rat but was was instructed to by the Minster for the Interior, dirty Pokin Polakul, thus implicating himself in a scandal which he basically had nothing to do with. So he resigned to take responsibility for his part while Thaksins ministers brought down a popular governor and the guilty parties lived to fight and plunder another day.

Maybe Apirak was to straight for the Democrat party, and now they have the man they need in place.

There is that old saying fight dirt with dirt.

[thaicbr]

He should be more worried about the dodgy fire extinguishers they seem to have bought, it stinks of a typical corrupt purchase- not a good start to his second tenure. Hopefully the relevant authorities will investigate the purchase properly. The bringing on board of the ex deputy police chief commissioner should help.

Typically TVF want to concentrate on Thaksin and PTP and brush any potential misdemeanor of opposition away with flippant comments and smoke and mirror tactics, as per posts 3 & 4. I am not quite sure how they are even relevant to the article.

I agree they should certainly investigate the alleged faulty fire extinguishers. BUT not only for corruption. The Thai scientists should be investigating for a possible space mission.. after ALL just one went 70 meters into the air through a ceiling... WOW

[rubl]

So, with all this our new governor will be really effective, walking on eggs, watching his back all the way.

BTW "a 1972 coup-enabled order"? I guess in the last 41 years no one saw a need to rewrite or drop this just because it was undemocratic and coup related. Anyway I fear public transport in Bangkok will not expand too rapidly with all this fun.

[ZhouZhou]

good to see that the authorities investigate these kind of crimes. corruption is not good and nobody needs bad politicians.

[khunken]

If Thaksin had his way, we wouldn't have the 2 extensions to the BTS. That's part of this 'investigation' - find something, anything that might scupper the opposition's (BMA's) achievements.

Using 'corruption' as the descriptor of making use of more modern methods of funds transfer points to the depth of bias in this 'investigation'. In fact the accusers should be investigated for wasting time & resources of an agency that's supposed to handle cases too big or complicated for the ordinary BIB to take on.

The other accusations are a lot less serious than PTP's use of people's names & photos (supposedly supporting Pongy) without their permission.

When you have a supposed independent institution controlled by the likes of (Thaksin via) Chalerm, it is just impossible to give any credibility to it's operation.

[thaicbr]

good to see that the authorities investigate these kind of crimes. corruption is not good and nobody needs bad politicians.

But yet you seem to support PTP!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[khunken]

good to see that the authorities investigate these kind of crimes. corruption is not good and nobody needs bad politicians.

But yet you seem to support PTP!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

You won't get any sense from a troll

[ZhouZhou]

good to see that the authorities investigate these kind of crimes. corruption is not good and nobody needs bad politicians.

But yet you seem to support PTP!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

This topic is not about PTP.

[thaicbr]

good to see that the authorities investigate these kind of crimes. corruption is not good and nobody needs bad politicians.

But yet you seem to support PTP!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

This topic is not about PTP.

You mentioned bad politicians. So a question do PTP NOT have any bad politicians?

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[Baerboxer]

Apirak was set up. A TRT hatchet job.This reporter. seems a bit hazy on the facts - the fire truck deal was the work of two ministers in Thaksins govt and ex Governor Samak. Then Apirak came into office and didn't want to sign the purchase papers as he smelt a rat but was was instructed to by the Minster for the Interior, dirty Pokin Polakul, thus implicating himself in a scandal which he basically had nothing to do with. So he resigned to take responsibility for his part while Thaksins ministers brought down a popular governor and the guilty parties lived to fight and plunder another day.

Maybe Apirak was to straight for the Democrat party, and now they have the man they need in place.

That's right - ignore the facts and involvement of the Big T crime family.

[rubl]

good to see that the authorities investigate these kind of crimes. corruption is not good and nobody needs bad politicians.

But yet you seem to support PTP!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

This topic is not about PTP.

That's true! It's about the doubt the current Bangkok governor can be effective without seamless government cooperation and with Pheu Thai MPs and other fools trying to derail whatever he might want to do. Quoting a 41 year old coup related law which even the late Samak didn't seem to have remembered in his term comes to mind.