MPs involved in Prayut-rescuing payoff scandal urged to come out as witnesses

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE GOVERNMENT MPs who might have been offered five million baht in cash bribe to rescue Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from a recent no-confidence motion were today (Sept. 17) strongly advised to come out as personal witnesses to the payoff scandal.

Thai Liberal Party leader Seripisut Temiyavej, who concurrently acts as chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Misconduct, called on a number of government MPs each of who had allegedly been offered and accepted the five million baht payoff to show up as personal witnesses who may substantiate the allegations which surfaced during a four-day censure debate against Prayut and five members of his cabinet.

The alleged kickback, offered and accepted in the room specifically reserved for the premier in the premises of parliament, was purportedly provided in exchange for the unidentified recipient MPs’ votes in support of Prayut who eventually survived the post-censure, no-confidence vote.

Seripisut said the legislators allegedly involved in the payoff scandal will be summoned for testimony before his panel next week.

The scandal apparently emerged alongside hearsay at parliament that Palang Pracharath Party secretary general Thammanat Prompow had allegedly planned to have a number of government MPs abstain from voting in support of the premier only to find himself ousted from the Prayut cabinet a few days after the no-confidence vote.

Chief opposition whip Suthin Klangsaeng who petitioned the Seripisut panel to investigate the scandal said there are not only personal witnesses but video clips to endorse the kickback allegations.

During the marathon censure debate in the meeting chamber, Pheu Thai MP Wisarn Techathirawat took the floor to say the alleged payoff was taking place in the premier’s room which shares the same building with the meeting chamber.

Prayut categorically dismissed the allegations during the censure debate, saying he had not gone insane enough to get such a thing done.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photo: NNT

Home Page: Thai Liberal Party leader Seripisut Temiyavej. Photo: Matichon newspaper

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