Bangkok governor charged over $8.1b city Skytrain contract extension
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Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra (centre), from the opposition Democrat Party. Thai authorities charged Mr Paribatra on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, with extending the multi-billion-dollar contract to run the city's elevated train network without government permission. -- PHOTO: THE NATION, BANGKOK
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai authorities charged outgoing Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Wednesday with extending the multi-billion-dollar contract to run the city's elevated train network without government permission.
Mr Sukhumbhand, who has stood down from his post to campaign for re-election in March, failed to consult the Interior Ministry before renewing the contract of Skytrain operator BTSC last year, the Department of Special Investigation said.
"The DSI informed Sukhumbhand of the charge today," the DSI's Thawal Mangkang told reporters at its Bangkok headquarters.
He added that the contract extension to 2042 - which was made 17 years before the deal was up for renewal - was worth US$6.6 billion (S$8.1 billion).
