Pay-off allegedly made during the administration of Samak Sundaravej

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin is digging into allegations a Japanese construction company paid the city Bt125 million in bribes.

It is alleged a former executive of Nishimatsu Construction paid bribes to city officials in 2003.

At the time the Bangkok governor was current PM Samak Sundaravej and his deputy was incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul.

Samak and Sahas yesterday both refused to comment on the allegations.

"The investigation should take about a week," Apirak says.

Apirak says deputy city clerk Somsak Klanpoj will head the investigation, which includes approaching the Japanese embassy here for information.

Tokyo probe

News reports quote Kyodo saying the Tokyo public prosecutor is investigating the case, too.

Apirak says if the Japanese cannot provide information as a result of its own continuing investigation the central government should act. "The National Counter Corruption Commission and the Attorney General should be able to request the information".

According to Kyodo News, a partnership between Tokyo-based Nishimatsu Construction and a local general contractor won a BMA flood-tunnelling project in September 2003.

The local contractor is apparently Italian-Thai. The contract winner was IN Joint Venture, or Italian-Thai-Nishimatsu.

The contract was worth Bt2.09 billion and is three quarters finished.

"The project should be completed in September," Somsak says, adding that Nishimatsu Construction can still bid for other BMA projects. It is not on a blacklist.