The Central Administrative Court is set to deliver a verdict in a landmark case in which Pathum Wan district office is accused of falsely certifying over a period of more than 15 years that Bangkok’s Soi Ruamrudee is more than 10 metres wide to facilitate the illegal construction of several skyscrapers.
In the final court hearing in the case yesterday, Chalermphong Klabdee, a lawyer representing the complainants, said in his closing statement that the soi, which runs through an area of prime real estate, was less than 10 metres wide, making many buildings along it illegal.
The coaccused, a construction contractor that is building two tall structures in the area, said the firm was led to believe by Pathum Wan district office documents that the soi was more than 10 metres wide, which would make construction of the buildings lawful.
The 24 complainants are residents living on the soi and in nearby areas. The first two accused – a former Pathum Wan district office chief and a former Bangkok governor did not show up for the hearing.
Officials from several government agencies and the court’s judges jointly surveyed the soi’s width and found that it was less than 10 metres wide, as stated by the complainants, who want construction of the two buildings scrapped, and no further permits granted for new buildings.
Chalermphong said earlier that officials at the district office or any other government agency would faced criminal prosecution for abuse of power if evidence could be produced proving illegal acts.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/national/Testimony-in-Soi-Ruamrudee-case-wraps-30166504.html
