Bangkok: Independent senators have submitted a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, urging the Supreme Court to appoint a committee to investigate the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) following allegations of questionable conduct.
According to Thai News Agency, the independent senators, led by Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, are preparing to petition the President of the Supreme Court to establish an independent investigative committee. This move comes in response to the NACC's dismissal of a complaint against former Minister of Transport, Saksayam Chidchob, regarding allegedly false asset declarations. The senators expressed concern that the NACC's actions have contributed to a decline in Thailand's Corruption Perception Index, which currently stands at 33 out of 100, ranking the country 116th out of 180 nations.
The independent senators are collaborating with Members of Parliament (MPs) under Article 236 of the 2017 Constitution. With the backing of at least 140 signatures, representing one-fifth of the parliamentary membership, they plan to submit a petition to the President of Parliament. This petition will request the President to forward the matter to the Supreme Court to set up an independent committee to scrutinize the NACC's work. Additionally, the senators have urged the President of Parliament to prioritize constitutional amendments on the parliamentary agenda to facilitate further investigations into independent organizations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Premsak Piayura highlighted the legitimacy of the petition, signed by one-fifth of the MPs, as a rightful measure to examine the NACC's operations. He called on the Speaker of Parliament to expedite the process, emphasizing that appointing a committee to investigate the facts is the only viable solution at present.