The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) board has challenged the legitimacy of an investigative team installed by its acting governor to probe alleged malfeasance in its Blue Line extension, saying this is the duty of the board.
MRTA chairman Yodyuth Boonyatikarn said the board decided at a meeting on Wednesday to set up its own panel to probe the case.
The board will also petition the Council of State, asking it for an opinion on the authority of the panel established by acting governor Ronnachit Yaemsaard.
If the Council of State, the government's legal arm, says the acting governor has the power to set up a probe, the panel's findings will be considered together with that of the board's panel, Gen Yodyuth said.
If the Council Of State rules the acting governor has no authority to set up such a panel, its investigation must be scrapped and the board will inform the acting governor that the board's panel investigation must be upheld, he said. The board's panel could wrap up the investigation in one or two weeks, he said.
The investigation into the alleged malfeasance came after the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) wrote to the Transport Ministry, asking it to look into the case in which MRTA executives made changes to the contract to extend the Blue Line from Sanam Chai to Tha Phra.
The changes were said to add 290 million baht to the construction cost and gave the contractor 90 more days to do the work. Mr Ronnachit formed the panel to investigate alleged irregularities concerning officials involved in the project.
Officials targeted include Peerayudh Singpatanakul, deputy governor (engineering and construction) who is also acting project director; Pakapong Sirikantaramas, director of the Construction Management Division 3; and Surachet Laophulsuk, acting director of Construction Management Division 2.
Early this month, Mr Peerayudh won the election to be the new MRTA governor. The board proposed his name to be new governor to the ministry. The proposal next will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval. If he is found guilty, a new recruitment process will be launched, said Gen Yodyuth.