Ex-Democrat MP Wilas Chanpithak on Wednesday filed petitions asking two agencies to investigate alleged irregularities in three projects undertaken by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Mr Wilas submitted complaints to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Office of the Auditor General, seeking inquiries into City Hall's procurement of closed-circuit television cameras; its extension of a 30-year contract with the Bangkok Transit System, and the 39-million-baht "Bangkok Light of Happiness" holiday-lights display.
All three projects involved Bangkok deputy governor Amorn Kijchawengkul, former president of Krungthep Thanakhom, the BMA's investment arm.
Mr Wilas claimed the CCTV project was dubious because the BMA initially announced publicly it would install 47,000 CCTVs, but actually had put in only 12,000.
He said he tried to obtain documentation related to the purchase of the cameras, but the BMA had not cooperated and tried to conceal details about the procurement contracts.
Regarding the extension for the operator of the skytrain system, Krungthep Thanakhom extended the agreement for BTS operations for another 30 years prematurely, he said, arguing the original contract still had 17 years remaining. The extension was made while Mr Amorn was president of Bangkok Thanakhom.
Concerning the New Year's illumination display, the BMA via Mr Amorn had signed a contract with Curio Tour and Travel Co to carry out the 39.5-million-baht project.
Mr Wilas believed specifications had been fixed in favour of Curio Tour and Travel, the company that previously organised study tours for members of the Bangkok Council to visit Italy, Switzerland and China in 2011.
The former Democrat MP said that his action against the BMA was not politically motivated. He said he was acting in his capacity as the former chairman of the anti-corruption committee of the House of Representatives.
Mr Wilas insisted that the Democrat Party had never received any explanations of the three projects from MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the Bangkok governor.
Prachak Boonyang, the deputy auditor-general, said his office would investigate the three projects, especially the light display, which involved a large sum of money.
He said the OAG had, in fact, already begun to investigate the spending on the display.