The Supreme Administrative Court has upheld the lower court's ruling to revoke an order forcing former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin to pay 1.2 million baht in compensation in connection with a fire truck and boat procurement scandal in 2004.
The City Hall order dated Nov 24, 2010 instructed Mr Apirak to pay the hefty compensation to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). Mr Apirak was accused of misconduct over the truck and boat deals.
According to the court on Thursday, he handled the task with sufficient care in line with his duty to protect the national interest.
He was not severely negligent as claimed, which would have caused damage to the BMA, said the court. Mr Apirak was therefore not deemed liable for damages.
The case involves a deal in which the BMA procured 315 fire-fighting trucks and 30 boats from Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug (Steyr).
The contract was signed in August 2004 by former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej.
Under the contract, the Austrian firm would supply the trucks and boats and buy boiled chicken from Thailand under a barter deal.
Mr Apirak later became governor and reportedly voiced concern about the deal. However, the purchases were officially approved.
Claims were made that the trucks were overpriced, with parts added in Britain.
