DSI to charge city officials over Bt190-bn deal with BTSC
Play
Execs of BMA, KT and Skytrain operator accused of bypassing govt
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is preparing to charge top executives of the city administration with malfeasance in the awarding of a Bt190-billion contract to the Skytrain operator, while the accused are scrambling to prepare their defence.
“It’s clear the suspects have violated a [post]-coup order giving the authority to make decisions on the rail-based system to the Interior Ministry or the interior minister,” Pol Lt-Colonel Tawan Mangkang, head of the DSI’s investigations, said yesterday.
After examining the evidence, public prosecutors approved the summoning of the executives to acknowledge the charges, he said.
Accused of illegally bypassing the interior minister in granting the 30-year contract are executives of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), its investment arm Krungthep Thanakom and the Skytrain operator BTSC.
Tawan said the crimes did not carry serious penalties, but if the contract were to be cancelled, BTSC’s business prospects would be bleak.
Bangkok City Clerk Ninnart Chalitanon said the BTSC contract was prepared in accordance with the BMA Act of 1985. The interior minister’s involvement was required only in cases concerning concessions, the clerk said. “But this is not a concession. It’s a contract to hire,” she said.
It was not clear why the DSI was intervening, as such a case should go to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Ninnart said.
“We have already submitted our explanation on the contract to the NACC,” she said.
The DSI started looking into the contract after some members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party lodged a complaint that the 30-year deal is nothing more than an extension of BTSC’s Skytrain concession.
Politicians in the opposition Democrat Party – a prominent member of which, MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, helms the BMA – have lambasted the DSI’s move as politically motivated.
Amorn Kitchawengkul, managing director of Krungthep Thanakom (KT) and one of the accused, said that since the Special Case Committee decided to act on this complaint, he had never had an opportunity to testify or submit documents.
“I’m surprised that the DSI will be calling me in to face the charge,” he said.
According to a source, Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaipiboon held an all-day meeting with executives of the BMA, KT and BTSC, as well as members of their legal teams.
“They’re preparing evidence. They want to submit it to the DSI on January 2,” the source said.
