POLITICS
The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) has resolved to charge former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul and seven other senior officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for allegedly colluding in a corruption scam related to a BMA land purchase. NCCC spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said the commission agreed to charge Mr Bhichit, his former secretary Somkad Suebtrakul and former director of Bang Sue district Chuan Pattanawaranon, and five other BMA officers, for colluding in a corruption scam involving Bang Sue district's purchase of a 270-million-baht land plot in 1997.
The land was intended to be a parking lot for the BMA's garbage trucks.
The NCCC found the land was surrounded by other properties and did not have an exit to the main road, while the BMA paid a highly inflated price for the land, said Mr Klanarong.
As Mr Bhichit, who was then Bangkok governor, had approved the purchase, he was to be accused of violating articles 149, 151 and 157 of the Criminal Code, said Mr Klanarong.
He said the NCCC found after the BMA paid for the land plot, the land owner issued a cheque to Mr Chuan and certain amounts of money were transferred into the bank accounts of Mr Bhichit and other officers involved.
The NCCC will forward the case to the BMA for disciplinary action to be taken against the BMA officials involved and to the Office of the Attorney General for charges to be filed with the Supreme Court's Criminal Section for Holders of Political Positions, Mr Klanarong said.
According to Mr Klanarong, the five other BMA officials allegedly involved in the corruption case are Yandet Thongsima, former deputy Bangkok governor; Mahin Tanboonperm, former adviser to the Bangkok governor; former city clerk Prasert Samalapa; Somkuan Rawirat, former Finance Office director, and Arunpan Kaewmarin, former director of the Finance System Division.
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