POLITICS
KING-OUA LAOHONG
Nam Yimyaem, the chairman of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) who also heads the ASC sub-panel investigating the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) fire truck deal, denies his sub-panel's decisions on the case are clouded by personal interest. Rumours are spreading that the sub-panel is likely to spare Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin from indictment because Mr Nam's son, a BMA civil servant, was recently transferred to a better position.
Mr Nam said his son's transfer has nothing to do with his panel's investigation into alleged corruption in the fire truck case.
Mr Nam's son Piset, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer sciences, was recently transferred to the City Law Enforcement Department after getting his master's degree in political science.
Mr Nam said it was a normal position with normal office hours, which included overtime.
He said his sub-panel based its decisions on evidence and the majority of votes on the panel. All members of the sub-panel also voted unanimously not to indict Mr Apirak, he added.
The panel was convinced Mr Apirak had opened the Letter of Credit for the BMA's fire truck deal with Steyr Co because he was compelled to do so by the Interior Ministry and the purchasing contract signed by his predecessor, Samak Sundaravej.
The ASC also needed to conclude the case before its tenure ends on June 30, not because it wanted to clear anybody's name before the election of the Bangkok governor, Mr Nam added.
Mr Apirak yesterday branded the attempt to link Mr Piset's transfer with the ASC sub-panel's decision as a bid to politicise the case. He said he could not possibly know all the parents of BMA staff.
Mr Apirak also denied the allegation that the Democrat party lobbied the ASC to spare him in the fire truck case. As well as Mr Apirak, other prominent individuals investigated in this case include former city clerk Nathanon Thavisin.
Khunying Nathanon yesterday called on Mr Nam to clarify a report that the panel was likely to indict her. She said she would ask Mr Nam's panel to review its decision about her indictment.
Khunying Nathanon yesterday said she had given documents to Mr Nam to clarify the fact that she disapproved of a request from Mr Nam's son for a transfer while she was city clerk. Some BMA officials thought her stance on the transfer might lead to her indictment.
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