Bangkok Administration seeks to 'kill' fire engines deal after ruling

[webfact]

BMA seeks to 'kill' fire engines deal after ruling
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok governor is cranking up efforts to kill a contract signed with an Austrian firm to supply fire vehicles following a landmark corruption ruling last week on the highly controversial deal.

In the hope of adding more weight to their plea, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has said that it will ask a Switzerland-based arbitrator to regard the Supreme Court's ruling, under which a former deputy interior ministry was sentenced to 12 years in jail, as evidence.

The BMA also wants the Attorney General to file a lawsuit with the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court in order to get Austria's Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug to revoke the contract under which it sold fire vehicles for Bt6.6 billion.

The city administration has asked the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration in Geneva to help get the contract revoked and to seek a refund for unused fire vehicles, which it says stemmed from the corrupt deal.

The BMA also wants related officials to pay damages at the Central Administrative Court, while the relevant agency will take disciplinary action against these officials.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumb-hand Paribatra said the Supreme Court ruling was clear proof the fire vehicles were bought under a questionable deal, and that it supports the BMA's push for the arbitrator to revoke the contract and get a full refund.

He said the BMA would be sending the arbitrator a translation of the ruling to further its case.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found both Pracha Maleenont and former senior BMA official Athilak Tanchookiat guilty of rigging bids in the fire vehicles case. Athilak was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The pair allegedly pushed for the purchase of 315 fire trucks and 30 fire-fighting boats without comparing prices, which allowed the Austrian company to sell the vehicles at a price that was nearly 49 per cent higher than it would have been if bought locally.

Pracha was absent when the verdict was read. He is thought to have fled abroad.


-- The Nation 2013-09-17

[virtualtraveller]

He is thought to have fled abroad - LOL.

This case is far from over, it will drag on for another decade.

[ratcatcher]

He is thought to have fled abroad - LOL.

This case is far from over, it will drag on for another decade.

Meanwhile, no new fire trucks and all that equipment left to rust and rot at the port.

Totally insane.

[worgeordie]

Bit too late to scrap the deal, I thought they had already

been paid for and the spoils distributed,the only thing

thats going to get scrapped is the fire engines, would

love to see a recent photo of them sitting in sheds,

slowly disintegrating,wonder how many lives they could

have saved,if they had been in service!,

regards Worgeordie

[smoochy]

With the amount of fires in Bangkok, they could probably use some new kit.

[monkey4u]

After sitting all these years, the condition of these trucks and boats will be rubbish.

Maybe its time to start getting bids for more equipement

Better still take all possessions from those responsible and use the proceeeds to refurbish the trucks.

Add a few life sentances in for good measure.

Sorry T I T nothing will happen

[Artisi]

All could be refurbished without too much trouble - but then of course where wouldn't be too much in the way of back-handers, not like a new contract for new equipment. So looks like a foregone conclusion which way it will go.

[TackyToo]

The attempt to "kill the deal" comes a little late. Perhaps the "killing" should have taken place before involving those guys who let it happen that two crooks could make such deal.

It's Check and Balance not "Cheque and Ballentines." But than again- TIT.

[Estrada]

Of course they compared prices to check that their commission was added on

Reason for threatening to cancel the deal is so that the new boys can get a cut

Edited September 17, 2013 by Estrada

[klauskunkel]

All sales final, no refund. Just like at Panthip.

[nonthaburial]

After sitting all these years, the condition of these trucks and boats will be rubbish.

Maybe its time to start getting bids for more equipement

Better still take all possessions from those responsible and use the proceeeds to refurbish the trucks.

Add a few life sentances in for good measure.

Sorry T I T nothing will happen

I cannot comment on the units parked up in Laem Cha Bang, but the units parked up at a Fire companies Workshop in Sai Noi, are started daily. Fire pumps are engaged and all operational equipment tested monthly, the units are cleaned every week.

These could be used operationally now.

Edited September 17, 2013 by nonthaburial

[Emdog]

I seem to recall something from business law classes way back when, something about that you can't use the argument that you did something illegal (demanding bribes etc) as a reason for having a contract cancelled.

[Artisi]

Yes but THIS is Thailand and we do what suits us.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[FangFerang]

All we have to do is stop having fires.....

[ratcatcher]

I have no idea of the year in which this photo was taken, but imagine over 300 of these trucks plus a number of quality rescue boats as well, all slowly rusting, rotting, corroding etc, down at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi for the last 8 or 9 years..

.

Now, due to corruption and petty bickering, they may be staying there for a few more years, while the bureaucrats argue back and forth with the Austrian supplier, Steyr, apparently wanting a full refund.

In most countries that would be pure criminal negligence.

[animatic]

The company the built and sold the fire engines is in no way at fault,

the total corruption was by the Thai companies acting as middlemen in the deal.

So there is little chance that Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug is going to

payback for what they have already legitimately sold to 'someone'.

Just because these weasels mislead their own people about the actual costs,

has absolutely NOTHING to do with Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug.

They made a product, and sold it in good faith to someone in workable condition.

End of story.

Edited September 17, 2013 by animatic

[Emdog]

Seems here it is not about the having, but the getting, that matters....

[Artisi]

Do you really think that means anything at all to the powers that be in Thailand.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[bangon04]

Another lesson in Thainess for any member of the EU which is contemplating a major deal with Thailand (or somebody who claims to be working on behalf of Thailand). The lesson is: always get payment before delivery..

[robblok]

The company the built and sold the fire engines is in no way at fault,

the total corruption was by the Thai companies acting as middlemen in the deal.

So there is little chance that Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug is going to

payback for what they have already legitimately sold to 'someone'.

Just because these weasels mislead their own people about the actual costs,

has absolutely NOTHING to do with Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug.

They made a product, and sold it in good faith to someone in workable condition.

End of story.

Think they rather claim from a foreign company then to get the money back from their own corrupt officials. I mean if they would get the money back from their own corrupt people it might set a precedent. This is the last thing the current government wants because then later maybe some of them have to pay back the money they stole.

I wish they would go after anyone who is corrupt and pick him clean no matter what his political allegiance is. Ah one can dream.