DSI to take skytrain concession case today
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The Special Case Committee will today assign the Department of Special Investigation to probe the extension of the Skytrain concession granted recently by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the DSI chief reiterated yesterday.
“We can assume that the case has been exploited by influential figures, who have been intimidating even DSI agents and the committee,” DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said.
The Democrat Party’s constant aggravation, whether by its Bangkok-based MPs or Democrat-ruled BMA executives, would make the case even more suitable for DSI, he said.
The committee’s meeting today at Government House will consider four cases for referral to the DSI besides the Skytrain concession – ive land encroachment on the Prachin Buri section of Khao Yai National Park, a government-regulated pawn scheme for rice husks, East Water’s donation to a Democrat-run flood relief centre, and the disposal of chemical waste in Lop Buri’s Nong Ree area.
Democrat MP Sakolthee Phatthi-yakul had said earlier that the DSI would not have jurisdiction over the BTS concession or the East Water issues. Many BMA officials have made similar statements while criticising the DSI for personally serving the Pheu Thai-led government to find fault with the opposition party.
Krungthep Tanakom (KT), the company in charge of the Skytrain operation and other BMA-hosted services, said it would today lodge a petition with PM Yingluck Shinawatra along with detailed documents showing transparency behind the Skytrain concession.
KT managing director Amorn Kijchawengkul said if the DSI takes on the Skytrain case, legal action would be brought against it and KT staff would dress in black in protest.
The BMA issued a paper defending its decision to extend the 30-year concession to BTSC with comprehensive explanations about several factors that would make the move lawful.
