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Sukhumbhand to be charged

Sukhumbhand to be charged

Bangkok governor may have to resign over New Year light show that allegedly violated the public purchasing law.

BANGKOK Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra will be charged with corruption over his alleged abuse of power in the procurement of lighting equipment used during the 2016 New Year light show at City Hall, according to the Interior Ministry permanent secretary.
The move could lead to the governor resigning.
In a letter sent to City Hall, permanent secretary Krisada Boonraj, acting on behalf of Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, cited the Office of Auditor-General’s (OAG) decision dated May 10 as the basis for charging the governor and 13 other city officials over the Bt40-million “Motif of Light” project implemented from December 30 to January 31.
The extravagant light-tunnel show in front of City Hall during the New Year festival was touted by the Bangkok governor as a gift to Bangkokians and foreign tourists visiting the capital, which is often voted as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
The project drew criticism after it emerged that public funds were misused and the selection of the bid winner was questionable. 
The State Audit Commission (SAC) endorsed the OAG’s findings in the case, prompting the Interior Ministry to inform the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to take legal action against MR Sukhumbhand and 13 other city officials.
In addition to MR Sukhumbhand, the BMA is required to take criminal, disciplinary and other actions against Pranee Satayaprakob, head of the BMA’s cultural, sports and tourism unit; Tawatchai Chan-ngam, director of the BMA’s tourism unit; and members of the committee responsible for the terms of reference (ToR) for the project’s bidding process.
Among its members are Sirote Sangchanrern, Wattana Techasuwannna, Pongpun Thanyacharern, Morakot Bhumpanich, Sitthichote Apiban, and several private company executives or their representatives.
The SAC voted unanimously to approve the OAG’s findings, which could lead to the Bangkok governor’s resignation because there is evidence that he and the other city officials allegedly violated the public procurement law.
The case has been forwarded to the National Counter-Corruption Commission for further action.
The “Motif of Light” project was awarded to Curio Tour and Travel Co on December 22. Its ToR, however, were announced on November 13 and stated that the project’s objective was to decorate City Hall with the light-tunnel technique for 30 days.
Several companies purchased the bidding document including Bangkok Mass Co, Curio Tour and Travel, Jipatha Idea Co, San Sang Co, Master Ad Co and PLA Co. But only two firms, including Curio Tour and Travel, submitted bids.
The OAG found that some of the company’s executives were members of the ToR committee responsible for selecting the wining bid.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department will review the performance of 20 small fire vehicles, which are now at the centre of a potential scandal, before deciding whether to buy more of them. 
“The department has already set up a panel to check the performance because these vehicles were commissioned into service around four or five months ago,” a source said. 
On Sunday, former Bangkok MP Vilas Chanpitaksa suggested the BMA might have bought the vehicles for three times the market price.
The source said yesterday the small fire vehicles had been procured to ensure firefighters could quickly put out fires even if they are located in small lanes. 
“Bangkok has so many small lanes, some apparently too small for fire trucks to enter. That’s why we need small fire vehicles to improve the efficiency of our operations,” the source said. 
The BMA spent Bt160 million on the 20 vehicles during the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. 
Last year on July 1, the BMA requested an additional Bt180 million to buy more of the vehicles but Bangkok Metropolitan Council suspended the project on the grounds that the vehicles that had already been purchased had not yet arrived.
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