DSI defends its right to probe BMA skytrain-extension deal
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The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) came out in defence yesterday of its authority to look into the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's extension of the BTS Skytrain service.
It delivered a detailed statement responding to the BMA’s questioning of its jurisdiction in the case.
Speaking at a news conference, director-general Tharit Phengdit likened the BMA's tit-for-tat statement against the DSI over the issue as an under-performing soccer team finding fault with the referee, instead of improving its team performance or correcting its wrongdoings.
He said the BMA’s constant aggressive remarks and written statements against the DSI and its agents in charge of the case could be regarded as harassment against state officials, which was a felony. However, the DSI would not take action against the BMA on these grounds.
The BMA complained that the DSI was unlawfully proceeding with the issue without completing the case within 30 days and handing it over to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. This was the procedure when it handled a corruption case involving fire trucks many years ago.
Tharit agreed that the 30-day deadline complied with a corruption case under the anti-bid-rigging law, but said the BTS matter was also in line with another law and the investigation was not yet complete.
Tharit said neither the BMA, the Bangkok Mass Transit System operator nor Krungthep Tanakom, a BMA-founded business agency that runs the BTS extended service, had contacted the DSI about giving testimony in a session scheduled for next Monday.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaiphibool earlier submitted a petition to Ombudsman Sriracha Charoenphanich about the DSI missing the 30-day deadline, two days after it had expired on June 10.
Sriracha accepted the petition and said it would take three to six months for Parliament’s Ombudsman Office to start its own inquiry.
