By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin may be subject to questioning by the National Anti-Corruption Commission amidst allegations that he had exercised cronyism over the promotion of certain police officers.
Assistant NACC secretary-general Puthep Thavichotitanakul confirmed today (Nov.24) that the prime minister may be scheduled sooner or later for interrogation in person with officials of the anti-graft agency pertaining to his alleged interference in transfer or promotion of police officers as superintendents in nepotistic fashion.
The NACC which had earlier conducted inquiries with former prime ministers, members of cabinet and other high-ranking government officials is yet to accumulate pieces of evidence including video clips which may be submitted by members of the public apart from petitioners and conduct thorough investigation into the alleged cronyism before the prime minister is duly questioned, the assistant NACC chief said.
The National Police headquarters, among other agencies, will be formally requested to provide truthful information pertaining to the transfers or promotion of police officers as superintendents anywhere, Puthep said.
Political activist Srisuwan Chanya has petitioned the NACC for a probe into Tuesday’s rare event in which Srettha had allegedly talked with Pheu Thai MPs during a partisan meeting about “too many, hush-hush” requests which the government lawmakers had made for him to manage to promote police officers as superintendents to be based at police stations in their respective constituencies.
“I am confident that there are more of you in this room to be disappointed than to be pleased with the newly-named superintendents whom you requested for promotion. There were too many requests. Anyway, several of you would be pleased,” the Pheu Thai-backed prime minister was quoted as allegedly saying to the Pheu Thai MPs during their recent partisan meeting.
Move Forward MPs and other critics have pointed out that such an action allegedly committed by Srettha was tantamount to a breach of the constitution and political ethics which ultimately prohibit politicians, ranging from prime ministers to elected lawmakers, from interfering in the internal business of police officers and other government personnel.
Former police chief Seripisut Temiyavej commented that the prime minister who has barely run the country for a few months is having no way-out other than to immediately step down to take responsibility for such an alleged wrongdoing.
Srettha has bluntly contended that he had never done anything which could have otherwise been considered an act of nepotism over the naming of any superintendents and that no Pheu Thai MPs had made any requests for him to do so as alleged.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Both photos: Thai Rath
Also read: Ex-police chief urges PM to step down over alleged cronyism
PM taken to task for allegedly looking to promote certain police officers
PM urged to skip double standards over Thaksin as convict at large
B600m in cash allegedly laundered by senator to be confiscated abroad
