Samak's wife, Pracha ordered by court to pay Bt587 million to BMA

[webfact]

Samak's wife, Pracha ordered by court to pay Bt587 million to BMA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Central Administrative Court Wednesday ordered the wife of late former prime minister Samak Sundaravej and former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont to pay Bt587 million each to the city administration over the controversial Bt6.6 billion fire vehicles project.

The court ordered Khunying Surat Sundaravej, who is Samak's heir, and Pracha to each pay 30 per cent of the Bt1.958 billion the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had already paid to Austria’s Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug for the purchase of the fire vehicle.

The two were also ordered to pay 7.5 per-cent interest retroactive to 2004 when the BMA paid the money to the Austrian firm.

The purchase was suspended after it was found that fire vehicles were defective and their prices has been highly inflated.

Surat and Pracha could still appeal against the court's ruling with the Supreme Administrative Court.

Earlier, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found Pracha Maleenont and former senior BMA official Athilak Tanchookiat, then director of the BMA Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, guilty of rigging bids in the fire vehicles case. Athilak was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The purchase deal was inked when Samak was BMA governor but the Supreme Court dropped charges against Samak, saying it would not pursue them after his death.

The Supreme Court last year found that Pracha and Athilak 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 they would have been if bought locally.

The Central Administrative Court Wednesday ruled that Samak and Athilak collaborated to rush the contract through before Samak completed his term. The contract was signed despite not having been scrutinised by the Office of the Attorney General, which is normal practice in purchases of this kind/

Pracha was ordered to pay the compensation in his capacity as the supervisor of the BMA at that time.

Pracha fled the country before the Supreme Court made a ruling in the case.

The Central Administrative Court also ruled Wednesday in favour of former commerce minister Watana Muangsook, freeing him from the obligation to pay damages to the BMA over the fire vehicles deal.

The court ruled that Watana had nothing to do with the order to have the BMA urgently sign the purchase contract with the Austrian firm.

-- The Nation 2014-04-30

[Bernard Flint]

Surprise surprise, NOT

[Artisi]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

[A1Str8]

It's a known fact that things that go around, tend to come around...usually tenfold. So all of those that were involved are going to get it anyway one way or another and what was taken will be taken.

So what was the point of doing it in the first place?

If I could stop laughing at idiots like these, I would be a serious man.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Bluespunk]

Ouch!

[billd766]

And the new BKK Governor, Apirak was forced to sign off on the deal and did the honourable thing and resigned.

Something that not one of the TRT/PPP/TRT would ever DREAM of doing.

[gangrel]

Half a billion baht.

She'll pay for it out of the Samak Petty Cash Fund.

Good to see the recoupment of some of his ill-gotten Thaksin Proxy gains.

Edited April 30, 2014 by gangrel

[chainarong]

Well that's put a few fires out.

[slapout]

Now they shold look into the purchase from Russia of diesel fuel at 37 baht/liter. Another of Samak's good deals while PM.

[NongKhaiKid]

Court - " sentence has been passed so have you anything to say ?

Kunying Surat - " eh, can I have time to pay ? "

[rreddin]

Half a billion baht.

She'll pay for it out of the Samak Petty Cash Fund.

Good to see the recoupment of some of his ill-gotten Thaksin Proxy gains.

Presumably, his estate was sued - he being dead. If the administration of his estate had already been completed, what liability should any beneficiary have who was not party to the purchase of these vehicles? Answer: none. If the estate is still being administered, it is the estate, in the form of trustees or ececutors, who would have this liability but only to the extent of the remaining value in the estate.

Another piece of poor journalism that leaves more questions than it answers.

[Bernard Flint]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

The only ones who will love this story, are the ones against corruption, whether red or yellow. However your comments are typical of a yellow blinkered farang

[buhi]

Where are the trucks now?

[eddie61]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpp!!!!

Thailand really is becoming a laughing stock on a par with North korea..................

Well, I suppose it's progress, in the sense that at least its in the open what has been happening for decades, and now "SOME" cases are being prosecuted.

[Emptyset]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

Wonder how many reds would have voted for Samak in the BKK mayoral election of 2000. After all, Thaksin chose Samak to lead PPP in 2007 both because he was an establishment figure, and because he had a lot of support amongst the middle classes in BKK, particularly lower middle class conservative types. Obviously it didn't quite work out as this group became the main constituency of PAD and is also a significant supporter base for the PDRC. Most reds I've spoken to didn't like him until he became PM and even then he wasn't popular upcountry (reports of many walking out of his appearances in Issan etc).

I think PPP won inspite of Samak more than because of him. But perhaps he did garner some affection from some reds in the end though, one supporter was telling me how he believed Samak had become a changed man and learned to love democracy. lol.

[bulekee]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

The only ones who will love this story, are the ones against corruption, whether red or yellow. However your comments are typical of a yellow blinkered farang

Very true Bernie,you one hit wonder.What's happening with the Thai aircraft carrier flying Harrier jump jets ( British ).The Swiss 40 year old Swiss personnel carriers.Not to mention the possible purchase of German U boats.Do yourself a favour,keep up with the game.You are fair game.

[pmugghc]

Where are the trucks now?

Rusting in some port:

http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/asia-report/thailand/story/costly-fire-trucks-left-rust-bangkok-20131025

[Tatsujin]

If they've been ordered to pay back Bt587 million EACH . . . what were the amounts they actually siphoned off then? (guesses will be fine . . . )

[Dogmatix]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

They claim that Apirak was responsible for the whole thing, even though he only took office as BMA governor after Samak had done the dirty deal.

[ezzra]

In China they would have, on top of the penalty/fine, face the gallows too... boggle the mind

the magnitude of the corruption in this country...

[winstonc]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

The only ones who will love this story, are the ones against corruption, whether red or yellow. However your comments are typical of a yellow blinkered farang

again whats with the yellow comment ....keep up..

[Thai at Heart]

And some poor sap got 10 years?

Amazing thailand

[mikemac]

The red supporters are just going to love this one, can't wait for the spin to begin.

The only ones who will love this story, are the ones against corruption, whether red or yellow. However your comments are typical of a yellow blinkered farang

again whats with the yellow comment ....keep up..

Oh Bernie, that yellow thing is so.............yesterday.

[northernjohn]

It's a known fact that things that go around, tend to come around...usually tenfold. So all of those that were involved are going to get it anyway one way or another and what was taken will be taken.

So what was the point of doing it in the first place?

If I could stop laughing at idiots like these, I would be a serious man.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Disagree Thaksin can only die once not a thousand of times.

Just my opinion but it would be nice if he felt like he was dying a thousand times.

[northernjohn]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpp!!!!

Thailand really is becoming a laughing stock on a par with North korea..................

Well, I suppose it's progress, in the sense that at least its in the open what has been happening for decades, and now "SOME" cases are being prosecuted.

Going to be some maids and other servants running for cover if they continue to go after the criminals from the past.

[webfact]

Court orders ex-PM Samak's inheritors, ex-deputy interior minister Pracha to compensate BMA
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 30 -- The Central Administrative Court on Wednesday ordered beneficiaries of the estate of the late former prime minister Samak Sundaravej and former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont to pay compensation to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for fire engines and boats procured as a City Hall project.

The Court ordered Mr Samak's inheritors--his widow, Mrs Surat and daughters Kanchanakorn Chaiyalap and Kandapha Mungthin to jointly pay Bt587 million compensation to the BMA.

The amount was 30 per cent of the Bt1.958 billion the BMA had already paid to Austria’s Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug for the purchase of the fire engines and boats.

They were also ordered to pay 7.5 per-cent interest retroactive to 2004 when the BMA paid the money to the Austrian company.

Mr Samak, then Bangkok governor was accused of malfeasance regarding the fire truck and boat procurement project which cost nearly Bt6.7 billion.

The purchase was later suspended after it was found that the fire vehicles were defective and their prices had been too high.

The Court ordered Mr Pracha to compensate the BMA in the same amount due to his role as deputy interior minister who supervised the BMA at that time.

The compensation must be paid within 60 days of the court verdict.

However, they could still appeal the court's ruling with the Supreme Administrative Court within 30 days.

The case involves the purchase of 315 firefighting trucks and 30 boats at what is alleged to have been inflated prices. Mr Samak was governor at the time of the purchase, but died in 2009. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-30

[bigbamboo]

Another thieving Thai Prime Minister.

[Dogmatix]

So what has happened to the fire trucks and boats? Have they been sold to a scrap metal dealer?

[bulekee]

Well that's put a few fires out.

There"s no smoke without fire.

[joebrown]

To Bulekee : There's a very inactive Aircraft Carrier moored at Sattahip Navy harbour. It has a VTO 'ski-jump' atop the pointed end, but alas never any visible signs of Harrier comings and goings!