BANGKOK: A former political leader has filed a petition with Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) to investigate Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra for allegedly appointing convicted individuals to her cabinet, potentially mirroring a previous political scandal.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Noppharuj Worachitwuttikul, ex-leader of the 2006 White Pigeon party and a former prisoner, called for an EC inquiry into whether the Prime Minister’s appointments of Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin as Minister of Public Health and Mr. Nattawut Saikua as advisor breached constitutional mandates. The investigation centers on Section 170, Paragraph One (4), and Section 160(4)(5) of the Constitution concerning the termination of ministerial status due to inappropriate conduct.
Mr. Noppharuj argues that appointments to the cabinet and advisory positions require rigorous scrutiny of candidates’ past conduct and qualifications, emphasizing the need for loyalty and adherence to political ethics. He expressed concerns over the tr
ansparency and propriety of Mr. Somsak and Mr. Nattawut’s appointments, given their criminal records and the circumstances surrounding Mr. Nattawut’s release from prison, which allegedly included an exemption from mandatory training under the Khok Nong Na royal project.
Further complicating the issue, Mr. Noppharuj highlighted that nearly all prisoners involved in the Khok Nong Na project completed the required training, except for Mr. Nattawut and a few others due to various reasons, including health. He questioned the integrity of appointing someone with a criminal past to a high-ranking advisory role, suggesting it might influence the Prime Minister’s decisions unknowingly.
In his statement, Mr. Noppharuj disclosed plans to escalate the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Constitutional Court through the Attorney General, reflecting his belief that the advisor position held by Mr. Nattawut equates to that of a public official, thereby necessitating further scrutiny.
This pet
ition follows a pattern observed in the case of former Prime Minister Settha Thavisin, who was compelled to resign after appointing a legally disqualified individual as a minister. Mr. Noppharuj’s actions suggest a significant challenge to Prime Minister Paethongtarn’s administration, hinting at potential legal and political ramifications.