NACC to charge 308 former lawmakers

08 มกราคม 2557

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will press charges against 308 ex-MPs and senators accused of misconduct in connection with the charter amendment on making the Senate fully elected.

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NACC commissioners Prasart Phongsivaphai (left) and Vicha Mahakhun explain the decision to press charges against 308 ex-MPs and senators accused of misconduct in connection with the charter amendment on making the Senate fully elected. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL

NACC to charge 308 lawmakers

Nattaya Chetchotiros
King-Oua Laohong

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has resolved to press charges against 308 ex-MPs and senators accused of misconduct in connection with the charter amendment on making the Senate fully elected.

If a guilty ruling results from the charges, it would affect the setting up of a new government after the Feb 2 election.

There would be an insufficient number of MPs to convene the House and select the prime minister, said Seree Suwannapanont, a prominent lawyer and former member of the 2007 Constitution Drafting Assembly.

The NACC, however, spared caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and another 72 lawmakers involved with the charter amendment process from being charged.

The NACC yesterday resolved to press charges against 308 out of a total of 381 former MPs accused of misconduct in connection with proposing and passing a draft amendment of the charter regarding the composition of the Senate.

The Constitution Court has ruled the draft violated Section 68, which prohibits attempts to overthrow the monarchy and unconstitutional efforts to seize power.

Based on evidence it had received, the NACC voted 7 to 2 to approve a proposal to press charges against the 308 MPs and senators in the charter amendment case while deciding to drop similar charges against 73 others including Ms Yingluck, NACC member Vicha Mahakhun said.

The dropped charges related to the extent of the 73 others' involvement in the proposing and passing of the draft, Mr Vicha said.

"The NACC [at this point] based its decision on the Constitution Court's ruling which also covers the part about the falsified draft charter amendment," he said.

"Basically, the 308 MPs and senators were involved in proposing the draft, so they should be aware that the draft was fake and they should be responsible for their actions," he said.

The NACC would reach its final decision after all 308 MPs and senators testify over the next 15 days, he said.

The 308 MPs and senators would next be required to acknowledge the charges before they would be allowed to defend themselves against them before the NACC, Mr Vicha added. When the NACC reaches a final decision on this case, it will be then be known whether the ex-MPs and senators will face impeachment and further legal action.

Mr Seree said the lawmakers charged by the NACC can keep their positions and perform their duties until the NACC rules whether the allegations have grounds.

And if the NACC concludes those lawmakers are guilty, the NACC would forward the cases to the Senate to impeach them and ban them from politics for five years.

You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/388445/nacc-to-charge-308-lawmakers