The Supreme Administrative Court Thursday upheld a ruling that former interior minister Bhokin Bhalakula does not have to pay 1.4 billion baht in compensation for alleged misconduct in City Hall's controversial 2004 fire truck and boat deal.
Mr Bhokin took the matter to the Administrative Court when the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) ordered him to pay 1.43 billion baht in compensation for losses incurred by the 6.7 billion baht deal. The scandal-plagued procurement scheme began in August 2004 on former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravejthe's last day in office.
The BMA signed a deal with Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug (Steyr) to buy 315 fire-fighting trucks and 30 boats. It made headlines because the fire engines and boats were manufactured in Thailand, then shipped to Europe for the installation of equipment, then shipped back to Thailand. The BMA paid 2 billion baht in total to the Austrian firm while the trucks and boats were left unused. It also sued politicians for alleged negligence that forced the BMA to buy the trucks and boats at a highly inflated price.
In September 2016 the Central Administrative Court ruled in the former minister's favour, saying Mr Bhokin was not responsible for losses occurred under the procurement scheme.
In Thursday's ruling, the Supreme Administrative Court said Mr Bhokin was not involved in the deal, had no power to scrap it and the BMA had to take responsibility.
The court cited the BMA's decision to set up a committee to examine the details of the deal even though Mr Bhokin suggested that City Hall proceed in line with the Agreement of Understanding (AOU).
According to the court, the BMA's actions indicated it was not legally required to follow Mr Bhokin's suggestion and was able to negotiate or revise the deal as it saw fit.
The court ruled the BMA was responsible for the procurement scheme and it alone should be held to account.
