Let me guess... Samak's excuse will be I am too busy with the elections.
TRT Targeted For Dissolution
Started by Jai Dee, 2006-06-07 12:17
#777
hammered
Titanium Member Posted 2007-11-14 10:39:15
 Former Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula  Former Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont  Former Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej FIRE-ENGINE SCAM Samak, 4 others face AEC probe Apirak off the hook because Bt6.7-billion deal signed before he became governor Former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej, ex-interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula and his deputy Pracha Maleenont are among five people to be investigated by the Assets Examination Committee for alleged involvement in the fire-engine corruption scandal, a source from the AEC said yesterday. However, Apirak Kosayodhin, Samak's successor and the current Bangkok governor, who has often been linked to the case, will escape investigation because the purchase was made before he took up the post, the source said. The AEC's chairman Nam Yimyaem yesterday said its fact-finding team had enough grounds to open a full investigation of five people, including three politicians, for their parts in the allegedly overpriced Bt6.7-billion deal. He did not name them. Nam said he had received a report from the fact-finding team and would put it to the AEC's full panel on Monday to decide whether a subcommittee should be set up to investigate the accused. The AEC source said the five were former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula, his deputy Pracha Maleenont and Pracha's assistant Somsak Kun-ngern, former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej and the former Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department chief Atilak Tanchukiat. Nam said the charges were malfeasance or corruption in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code, causing damage of over Bt6 billion to the government. Nam said the sub-committee could summon more suspects if more were involved. Last year the Department of Special Investigation said there were seven, the present five plus Apirak and then-commerce minister Wattana Muangsuk. Bhokin signed an agreement of understanding for the purchase at a government-to-government level. Pracha was responsible for discussing details with Austrian ambassador Herbert Traxl, and his assistant Somsak prepared the barter-trade plan for the deal. The Foreign Trade Department sealed the barter agreement with Steyr Daimler Puch, the Austrian supplier of fireboats, fire engines and fire-fighting equipment to the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department while Wattana was commerce minister. The source yesterday said that Apirak, who had a letter of credit for the deal opened, was not on the AEC list for investigation because he had taken up his post after Samak signed the contract with Steyr Daimler Puch, which was conditional on the issuance of a letter of credit for payment. The Nation UPDATE Politicians 'took 500 million baht bribes for fire trucks deal' Some politicians involved in the overpriced purchase of fire-fighting equipment for Bangkok flew to Singapore to collect Bt500 million in bribes, a member of the Interior Ministry panel investigating the scandal said yesterday. "We are gathering evidence against the corrupt officials," the official said on condition of anonymity. He did not say how many politicians were bribed or when it happened. The committee will tomorrow wrap up its probe into the Bt6.68-billion deal for fire trucks, fireboats and other equipment for the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department. Its results will be forwarded to Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya before being released to the public in the next fortnight. "Like other panels, we found the deal to be overpriced. However, on some points our results differ from what the Assets Examination Committee [AEC] found," the official said. Earlier this year, the AEC concluded the deal was overpriced to the tune of Bt1.9 billion. It accused former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula, his then-deputy Pracha Maleenont and then-assistant secretary Somsak Khun-ngern of corruption for their roles in the deal with an Austrian company. The AEC also said there was evidence against former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej and the head of the fire department Police Maj-General Atilak Tanchukiat. It found no evidence against incumbent governor Apirak Kosayodhin. The member of the Interior Ministry's panel investigating the scandal said, "We have not ignored evidence against persons the AEC has not named as suspects." Officials who had failed to co-operate in the probe will be named, the panel member said. Former Bangkok city clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin has already been identified as uncooperative. "Although they are not corrupt they avoided giving information that could be useful," the official said. Members of the police must take some responsibility for designing the specifications of the deal while Krung Thai Bank will face action for opening the letter of credit, he added. The eight-person panel probing the scandal is chaired by Assoc Professor Veerapong Boonyopas, head of the business crime and money-laundering centre at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Law. The deal can be traced back to 2004 when Bhokin, as interior minister, signed an agreement of understanding with the Austrian ambassador to purchase fire trucks, fireboats and other fire-fighting equipment. Pracha and Somsak helped draft the agreement. Samak signed it just before his term ended. - The Nation UPDATE People Power Party Leader to Give Testimony on Fire Truck Purchase Next Week The Assets Examination Committee summoned the leader of the People Power Party to hear his charge of being involved in the controversial purchase of Bangkok's fire equipment on November 21. On Tuesday the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) reached an agreement to issue summons for five individuals, accused of involvement in the controversial procurement of fire trucks and boats for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), to hear their charges for causing 2 billion baht worth of damages to the state and for violating the Anti-Bidding Scam Act The five accused include the former Bangkok Governor and current People Power Party Leader Samak Sundaravej, former Interior Minister Pokin Pollakul, former Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont, his personal secretary Somsak Khun-ngern, and former Director of the BMA's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, Police Lieutenant Colonel Athiluk Tanchukiet. - Thailand Outlook Nice timing. One wonders quite how the cheerleader of massacres will handle himself in front of the media on that day. #778
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2007-11-22 11:49:59
Former Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula Former Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont Former Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej FIRE-ENGINE SCAM Samak, 4 others face AEC probe Apirak off the hook because Bt6.7-billion deal signed before he became governor Former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej, ex-interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula and his deputy Pracha Maleenont are among five people to be investigated by the Assets Examination Committee for alleged involvement in the fire-engine corruption scandal, a source from the AEC said yesterday. However, Apirak Kosayodhin, Samak's successor and the current Bangkok governor, who has often been linked to the case, will escape investigation because the purchase was made before he took up the post, the source said. The AEC's chairman Nam Yimyaem yesterday said its fact-finding team had enough grounds to open a full investigation of five people, including three politicians, for their parts in the allegedly overpriced Bt6.7-billion deal. He did not name them. Nam said he had received a report from the fact-finding team and would put it to the AEC's full panel on Monday to decide whether a subcommittee should be set up to investigate the accused. The AEC source said the five were former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula, his deputy Pracha Maleenont and Pracha's assistant Somsak Kun-ngern, former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej and the former Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department chief Atilak Tanchukiat. Nam said the charges were malfeasance or corruption in violation of Article 157 of the Criminal Code, causing damage of over Bt6 billion to the government. Nam said the sub-committee could summon more suspects if more were involved. Last year the Department of Special Investigation said there were seven, the present five plus Apirak and then-commerce minister Wattana Muangsuk. Bhokin signed an agreement of understanding for the purchase at a government-to-government level. Pracha was responsible for discussing details with Austrian ambassador Herbert Traxl, and his assistant Somsak prepared the barter-trade plan for the deal. The Foreign Trade Department sealed the barter agreement with Steyr Daimler Puch, the Austrian supplier of fireboats, fire engines and fire-fighting equipment to the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department while Wattana was commerce minister. The source yesterday said that Apirak, who had a letter of credit for the deal opened, was not on the AEC list for investigation because he had taken up his post after Samak signed the contract with Steyr Daimler Puch, which was conditional on the issuance of a letter of credit for payment. The Nation UPDATE Politicians 'took 500 million baht bribes for fire trucks deal' Some politicians involved in the overpriced purchase of fire-fighting equipment for Bangkok flew to Singapore to collect Bt500 million in bribes, a member of the Interior Ministry panel investigating the scandal said yesterday. "We are gathering evidence against the corrupt officials," the official said on condition of anonymity. He did not say how many politicians were bribed or when it happened. The committee will tomorrow wrap up its probe into the Bt6.68-billion deal for fire trucks, fireboats and other equipment for the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department. Its results will be forwarded to Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya before being released to the public in the next fortnight. "Like other panels, we found the deal to be overpriced. However, on some points our results differ from what the Assets Examination Committee [AEC] found," the official said. Earlier this year, the AEC concluded the deal was overpriced to the tune of Bt1.9 billion. It accused former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula, his then-deputy Pracha Maleenont and then-assistant secretary Somsak Khun-ngern of corruption for their roles in the deal with an Austrian company. The AEC also said there was evidence against former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej and the head of the fire department Police Maj-General Atilak Tanchukiat. It found no evidence against incumbent governor Apirak Kosayodhin. The member of the Interior Ministry's panel investigating the scandal said, "We have not ignored evidence against persons the AEC has not named as suspects." Officials who had failed to co-operate in the probe will be named, the panel member said. Former Bangkok city clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin has already been identified as uncooperative. "Although they are not corrupt they avoided giving information that could be useful," the official said. Members of the police must take some responsibility for designing the specifications of the deal while Krung Thai Bank will face action for opening the letter of credit, he added. The eight-person panel probing the scandal is chaired by Assoc Professor Veerapong Boonyopas, head of the business crime and money-laundering centre at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Law. The deal can be traced back to 2004 when Bhokin, as interior minister, signed an agreement of understanding with the Austrian ambassador to purchase fire trucks, fireboats and other fire-fighting equipment. Pracha and Somsak helped draft the agreement. Samak signed it just before his term ended. - The Nation UPDATE People Power Party Leader to Give Testimony on Fire Truck Purchase Next Week The Assets Examination Committee summoned the leader of the People Power Party to hear his charge of being involved in the controversial purchase of Bangkok's fire equipment on November 21. On Tuesday the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) reached an agreement to issue summons for five individuals, accused of involvement in the controversial procurement of fire trucks and boats for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), to hear their charges for causing 2 billion baht worth of damages to the state and for violating the Anti-Bidding Scam Act The five accused include the former Bangkok Governor and current People Power Party Leader Samak Sundaravej, former Interior Minister Pokin Pollakul, former Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont, his personal secretary Somsak Khun-ngern, and former Director of the BMA's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, Police Lieutenant Colonel Athiluk Tanchukiet. - Thailand Outlook UPDATE Fire engine scam group under investigation A fact-finding team investigating the controversial purchase of fire engines and boats by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has called on all five suspects in the case to hear malfeasance charges against them on Wednesday. They include former Bangkok Governor and now Leader of the People Power Party (PPP) Samak Sundaravej, former Interior Minister Pokin Polakul, former Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont, his assistant Somsak Kun-ngern and former Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department chief Atilak Tanchukiat. According to the fact-finding team, only a representative of Pracha arrived this morning to inform officials that a lawyer will hear charges in Pracha’s place later today. The five officials are under investigation for their involvement in the 6.8 Billion Baht deal to purchase the trucks and boats from Steyr Daimler Puch, the Austrian manufacturer of the fire engines and fireboats. The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) insisted it had enough evidence to prove that the trucks and fireboats were partially made in Thailand, which meant that the deal had been overpriced. Continued here: http://www.bangkokpo...s.php?id=123789 =============================================================================== Samak, Bhokin acknowledge charges over fire-truck deal Former Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej and former Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula yesterday acknowledged criminal charges filed against them for their roles in the 6.6 Billion Baht deal to buy fire-fighting equipment for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration BMA. Samak, now Leader of People Power Party, assigned lawyer Phichit Chuenban to hear the charges of malfeasance and involvement in unlawful bidding at the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). Phichit said Samak would give a written response to the charges at a December 4 hearing. Phichit said Samak requested a clear statement from the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) stating exactly the charges filed against him, and for a copy of the entire AEC investigation report into the scandal. Bhokin acknowledged the same charges in person at the OAG headquarters and said he had nothing personally to do with the procurement deal, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had handled the contract and negotiations. The former Thai Rak Thai party-list MP said his only role in the deal was his ex-officio supervision over the BMA. He had never seen the detailed contracts between the BMA and Austrian manufacturer, Steyr Daimler Puch, he said. "The only papers I signed was a three-page MOU during a 30-minute session with the Bangkok Governor and the Austrian Ambassador [Herbert Traxl in 2004], both of whom I had never met earlier," he added. Bhokin said he would counter the charges before the AEC himself on December 4. - The Nation =============================================================================== Meanwhile, Shinawatra family lawyer Pichit Chuenban yesterday appeared at the ASC office on behalf of People Power Party Leader and former Bangkok Governor Samak Sundaravej to hear charges over Samak's alleged involvement in irregularities concerning the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's 6.7 Billion-baht fire truck and boat deal with an Austrian firm. The case is being investigated by the ASC sub-committee, chaired by Mr Nam. Pichit yesterday asked the sub-committee to clarify Samak's alleged mistakes and ask for a permit to photocopy all the documentary evidence against Samak so that he could prepare for testimony on Dec 4. Samak is among five senior administrators implicated by the ASC sub-panel. Continued here: http://www.bangkokpo...2007_news08.php ================ The ties between Thaksin and the People Power Party draw even closer... #779
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-01-30 12:26:44
UPDATE... the nearly Seven Billion Baht fire truck scandal is moving ahead
AEC Goes Ahead with Corruption Case against New PM The Assets Examination Committee says it will forge ahead with the investigation into various corruption cases against the newly appointed Prime Minister of Thailand. He says Samak’s new position will not affect the panel’s investigation. Assets Examination Commissioner Banjerd Singkaneti says the AEC will forge ahead with the cases against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. Banjerd is a member of the sub-committee set up by the AEC to investigate Samak’s involvement in a controversial fire trucks procurement scandal. Banjerd says the investigation is still still active despite Samak being appointed as Thailand’s new prime minister on Tuesday. Samak is accused of being involved in a number of corruption charges for signing two contracts while he was the governor of Bangkok. The first deal is a controversial garbage contract in 2003 and the other is the purchase of fire trucks and fire boats in 2004. The AEC committee says it's not afraid the committee may be disbanded by the new government. During his election campaign, Samak Sundaravej has made it public he plans to dismantle the AEC. Samak claims the AEC has too much power and that its jurisdiction overlaps with some of the existing independent anti-corruption bodies. The AEC is in the process of interviewing 20 witnesses whom Samak had presented to the committee. However, Banjerd says he cannot say when the AEC will be able to forward the case to the Attorney-General's Office. How soon the committee can proceed with the case will depend on the number of witnesses involved. Meanwhile Udom Fuengfung, another AEC member investigating Samak’s case, says Samak’s status as the new prime minister of Thailand will not affect the AEC’s work. Udom says the AEC is doing everything according to the law. He does not believe the new government will be able to interfere with the AEC’s investigation. - Thailand Outlook #780
John K
Hypnotic member Posted 2008-01-30 12:39:27
I guess the sequel to this thread is due any day now.
#781
jbowman1993
Lover of Peace Posted 2008-01-31 09:54:27
How is this topic still running? THEY WERE ALREADY DISSOLVED!
#782
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-01-31 14:18:05
I agree with the sentiment, Mr. Bowman... and thus a proper new thread has been started to take over for this off-thread-topic portion of this thread.
http://www.thaivisa....howtopic=166961 New Prime Minister Still Facing Corruption Cases Thanks for the hook-up, Jai Dee...  Having no need now to continue adding off-topic posts into this thread on this portion of it, I would be in favor of allowing the thread to remain open just in case there are some relevant on-topic developments at some future time. Given the current situation, that is a development that would not be all that surprising. I think for historical purposes, it's best to leave threads open when at all possible, which I realize isn't always the case in this section of the forum, but it saves in having multiple threads on same topics and for several other reasons, should be attempted. 
Edited by sriracha john, 2008-01-31 14:20:56. #783
Jai Dee
Star Member Posted 2008-01-31 14:46:04
Thanks for the hook-up, Jai Dee... 
Having no need now to continue adding off-topic posts into this thread on this portion of it, I would be in favor of allowing the thread to remain open just in case there are some relevant on-topic developments at some future time. Given the current situation, that is a development that would not be all that surprising. To be continued... #784
John K
Hypnotic member Posted 2008-01-31 17:24:17
Sometimes you need to hit a big cockroach more than once before it stops moving.
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