Bangkok: Parit Wacharasindhu and Pakornwut Udompipatkul, members of the People's Party, have unveiled four allegations against them by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). They have threatened to sue the Speaker of Parliament if the case is not submitted to the Supreme Court.
According to Thai News Agency, Parit explained the allegations, urging the Speaker of the House to consider the NACC's complaint in the Sak Siam case before the parliamentary session concludes. He has threatened to sue under Section 157 if the complaint is not forwarded. Pakornwut is also preparing to demand that the NACC disclose the information and will approach the National Anti-Corruption Commission if the 30-day deadline is exceeded.
During a press conference, Pakornwut and Parit detailed a petition submitted to the President of Parliament. This petition, supported by the opposition party and senators, claimed that the NACC acted improperly in dismissing the case against Mr. Saksayam Chidchob. Pakornwut highlighted that the investigation's termination and the dismissal of the case concerning Mr. Saksayam's concealment of shares, particularly from the no-confidence debate in 2022, showed that Mr. Saksayam not only held shares in Buricharoennakorn Company but was also a founder, holding 80% of its shares. The company's location at Mr. Saksayam's home address further raised concerns.
Prior to the 2018 election, all shares were transferred to someone closely associated with Mr. Saksayam. Although not a criminal offense, this transaction and other circumstances led to suspicions of a disguised transaction. Following the no-confidence debate, a case was filed with the Constitutional Court, ruling that the matter constituted concealment of shares. The NACC's decision to close the case raised suspicions. The public questioned the NACC's explanation, which only addressed shareholding and assets while also mentioning a 38 million baht loan by Mr. Saksayam.
Parit emphasized that the complaint filed with the NACC through Parliament's Speaker contains four main allegations. The first is that the NACC's investigation process is flawed, as it does not thoroughly examine assets and liabilities before dismissing complaints related to asset declarations. The second allegation claims that the NACC misused its discretion in considering this case, failing to conduct a fair review and making errors, especially when their ruling contradicted the Constitutional Court's judgment. The third allegation accuses the NACC of intentionally concealing irregularities, lacking transparency, and failing to provide complainants with access to relevant documents. The fourth allegation claims the NACC neglected to investigate other related offenses, such as conflicts of interest.
Parit expressed concern about the Speaker of Parliament's timeframe for considering the matter. He cited a previous case where a complaint was delayed for 10 months before dismissal. He believes that the current Speaker, Mr. Sophon Saram, should consider the matter swiftly and without much burden, given the clear facts. Parit expects the matter to be addressed before the parliamentary session ends in mid-July.
Parit stated that if the Speaker does not forward the matter to the Supreme Court, they might file a complaint for abuse of power under Section 157. Pakornwut mentioned that if the NACC does not provide the requested documents, he has the legal right to take action against the Government Information Commission. He hopes the NACC will not delay, having learned from past consequences.