Ex-Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul cleared of graft charges

[webfact]

Ex-Bangkok governor cleared of graft charges
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- FORMER Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul and ex-city clerk Prasert Samalapa were yesterday acquitted of corruption charges related to the purchase of a car park for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration 20 years ago.

Meanwhile, two senior BMA officials were imprisoned over corruption in the same procurement process.

Somkhad Suebtrakool, Bhichit's secretary, was sentenced to eight years while Chuan Phatthanawaranont, former Bang Sue district chief, was sentenced to 10 years. Somkhad and Chuan were both released on bail.

They were found guilty of receiving Bt18 million each in commissions from landowners who resold 17 plots of land totalling 11 rai (1.75 hectares) in Bang Sue district to the BMA to be used as a car park. The landowners issued cheques worth Bt18 million and deposited them in the bank accounts of Somkhad and Chuan.

Apart from Bhichit and Prasert, the Criminal Court also acquitted four other defendants: Yandej Thongsima, former Bangkok governor; Mahin Tanbunpherm, former BMA adviser; Somkhuan Rawirat, former head of the BMA's Finance Department; and Arunphan Kaewmarin, former head of BMA's Fiscal System Department.

Although Bhichit did not declare his assets the year after the land-purchase deals were signed in 1996, the public prosecutor could not produce evidence of wrongdoing.

The legal complaint stated that Bhichit opened up the bidding between December 1995 and September 1997 to buy several blocks of land in Bang Sue district to develop a parking area for the BMA's garbage trucks. The then-governor decided to buy the land through a special method. Only one proposal, from landowners Suphoj and Sunee Manomaiphan, was considered, the complaint stated.

When the verdict was read out yesterday at the Criminal Court, no details were provided by the judges to explain Prasert's acquittal.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ex-Bangkok-governor-cleared-of-graft-charges-30260142.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-15

[Tatsujin]

So another one "at the top" gets away with lying, cheating and stealing with no consequences, whilst the "underlings" take the fall.

You'd think the "underlings" would have wised up by now ...

[clockman]

Another Thainess, judges did not explain why! I would love to see there bank accounts?

[Thaddeus]

''Tell your mate on the other end of the phone exactly what I am going to do with this finger''

[thaiowl]

Sentenced, then released on bail!

"Somkhad Suebtrakool, Bhichit's secretary, was sentenced to eight years while Chuan Phatthanawaranont, former Bang Sue district chief, was sentenced to 10 years. Somkhad and Chuan were both released on bail."

[jackanapes]

heads are beginning to roll corruption has reared its ugly head i wonder if this is the start of something big I do hope so corruption is endemic in Thailand .

[Ulic]

I wonder how much that cost him.

[BestBitterPhuket]

Why is the landowner not charged for paying bribes? Is it perhaps legal to PAY bribes and only illegal to RECEIVE bribes?

[torpedo1970]

20 years ago??

Good that the legal system is working so swift.....

[Jim walker]

Corruption charges against Bangkok Metropolitan Administration as if Thais are far too honest to even think of doing anything dodgy doing everything in life to help other who are worse off than themselves and help the citizens of the city never for self-gratification or greed.

[laocowboy2]

What confuses me is why the (corrupt) idiots allowed themselves to be paid by cheque? I would have been able to provide very reasonably pruced laundry services.