Admin Court dismisses compensation order against Bhokin
The Central Administrative |Court has nullified the order requiring former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula to pay Bt1.43 billion in compensation over alleged corruption in the fire-truck procurement case.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) issued the order based on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)’s guilty verdict against Bhokin, who played a role in the purchase of Bt6.67 billion worth of fire vehicles from an Austrian supplier. The NACC investigation found that the price was highly inflated and there were grounds to suspect corruption.
However, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions only delivered a guilty verdict and passed sentences on former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej and former deputy interior minister Pracha Maleenont in 2013.
Bhokin had fought against the BMA order by filing a petition with the Central Administrative Court, which ruled in his favour yesterday.
A source disclosed that the BMA plans to study the court verdict in detail and speak to the public prosecutors who helped it with the case before planning its next move.
“The verdict will be sent to the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department,” the source said, adding that if the BMA wants to appeal, it must do so within 30 days.
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