Abhisit, Pracha, other Thai MPs cleared

Abhisit, Pracha, other Thai MPs cleared
Bangkok Post, April 20, 2012

The Constitution Court on Friday dismissed petitions against a number of Pheu Thai and Democrat MPs for alleged constitutional violations in giving out relief supplies during the devastating floods late last year.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party asked the court to rule whether Democrat and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Democrat MP for Phitsanulok Warong Dejkitvikrom should be stripped of their parliamentary status, and alleged that as MPs they wrongfully interfered in the work of state officials by handing out relief bags to flood victims in Phitsanulok.

The court ruled that the accusation was groundless and that the distribution of relief bags was aimed at helping people affected by the flooding.

In the second case, the Democrats had filed a counter-suit asking the court, through the House speaker, to rule whether Pol Gen Pracha and the six Pheu Thai MPs should lose their MP status for interfering in the work of government officials in the distribution of relief supplies during the floods late last year.

The six MPs are Karun Hosakul, Thanusak Lekuthai, Jirayu Huangsap, Surachart Thienthong, Vicharn Minchainant and Vorachai Hemma.

The court also found that Pol Gen Pracha and the six Pheu Thai MPs had been intent on helping the people in flood affected areas and there was no evidence of corruption or working for their own self-interest.

The court dismissed all the petitions.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions disqualified Pheu Thai's Chinnicha Wongsawat as an MP and banned her from politics for five years for making a false declaration of her assets while serving as MP for Chiang Mai.

Ms Chinnicha was sentenced to two months in jail, suspended for one year, and a fine of 4,000 baht.

The petition was filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The anti-graft agency found her guilty of making a false declaration of assets and liabilities in violation of Section 263 of the constitution.

Ms Chinnicha is a daughter of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and Mrs Yaowapa, a younger sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.