Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin announced on Thursday that he will suspend his duty, effective immediately, after the Assets Examination Committee (AEC)decided to press charges against him.
Apirak, who is also deputy leader of the opposition party Democrat Party, wanted to follow the ethic principle that "when facing charges, we (government officials) should suspend our work until the charges are cleared," Democrat Party spokesman Ongart Klampaibul said.
Apirak made the announcement after the AEC member Klanarong Chantik revealed on Wednesday that it is seeking charges against him and five other parties in connection with the controversial project that involved fire-truck and boat procurement for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Besides Apirak, other accused include current Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who approved the project on Aug. 27, 2004, the last day of his tenure as Bangkok governor, former commerce minister Watana Muangsuk, former city clerk Nathanon Thavisin, former chief of the Foreign Trade Department of the Commerce Minister Rachen Pojanasunthorn, supplier Steyr Co. and its representative Mag Minar.
The AEC's accusation against Samak is deemed another blow on the new government, which took office in early February after the Samak-led People Power's Party won the Dec. 23 election last year and formed a coalition with five other parties, leaving the Democrat Party sitting alone on the parliament's opposition bench.
Earlier, three ministers in Samak's cabinet -- Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart and Labor Minister Uraiwan Thienthong were already named by the AEC as defendants in two and three-digit lottery scam launched by the former Thaksin administration.
The AEC has lodged the suit to the Supreme Court, accusing the three ministers, among a total 47 defendants, of misconducts in the lottery project during their work for the former Thaksin government.
Opposition has called for the three ministers' suspension of duty in the cabinet, but Samak has defended the ministers and rejected the calls.
The Supreme Court has set May 14 as the date to decide whether to accept the case and open a trial against the three ministers.
Source:Xinhua
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