A former dean of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University has asked Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate 235 senators for allegedly defying ethical conduct rules over their rejection of Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s prime ministerial candidacy on July 13th.
Panat Tasneeyanond said that only 13 out of 249 senators voted for Pita, but 159 abstained, 34 voted against the candidacy and 43 were absent.
Abstaining from voting or absence from the parliamentary meeting on July 13th equates to rejecting Pita’s candidacy, said Panat, adding that their conduct amounts to a failure to adhere to democratic governance with the King as the head of state, which, he added, is a serious violation of the ethical standards stipulated in Sections 234 and 235 of Thailand’s Constitution.
The former dean alleged that the senators’ actions are tantamount to rejecting the parties which won the election and represent the majority in the House of Representatives.
If the NACC finds his allegation has grounds, he said the watchdog must forward the case to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office for consideration. If the court then accepts the case, it is empowered to suspend the 235 senators from performing their duties immediately and, if they are subsequently found guilty, ban them from politics for ten years, said Panat.
Meanwhile, serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana said today (Sunday) that he will ask the NACC to check the assets and liabilities declared to the corruption watchdog six of the senators who voted in support of Pita’s prime ministerial candidacy.
The six senators are Kraisid Tontisirin, Zakee Phithakkumpol, Pol Lt-Gen Jitti Rodbangyang, Pisan Manawapat, Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana and Prapasri Suchantabutr.
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