BANGKOK, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted former Bangkok governor Phichit Rattakul of malfeasance while he was in office in connection with the over-priced procurement of land in Bangkok's Bang Sue district for the parking of garbage and water trucks and other vehicles.
The Thai Supreme Court's reading overturned the Thai Appeals Court's guilty verdict and the five-year prison sentence.
However, the Supreme Court upheld the Appeal's Court's verdict against Phichit's former secretary Somkard Suebtrakul and Chuan Pattanavaranon, a former Bang Sue district officer. Both were sentenced to prison for five years and seven years respectively.
The land deal case dates back to December 1997 when City Hall, under the then governor Phichit, signed a contract to buy a plot of land in Bangkok's Bang Sue district to be used as a parking lot for 270 million baht 8,811,990 U.S. dollars), a price which was allegedly inflated by about 36 million baht (1,175,145 U.S. dollars) above market price at the time. It was also alleged that about 18 million baht (587,466 U.S. dollars) in commission was paid to city officials involved in the deal.
The Criminal Court found Somkard and Chuan guilty and sentenced them to eight years and 10 years in prison respectively while the rest were acquitted.
