Thai anti-graft body begins new investigation into opposition politicians
By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng
BANGKOK, Aug 30 (Reuters) -Thailand's anti-corruption commission on Friday said it had launched an investigation into 44 members of the disbanded Move Forward party, 25 of who are current parliamentarians, for supporting legislation seeking to amend the royal insult law.
It comes less than a month after a court ordered the dissolution of Move Forward over its election campaign pledge to amend the lese majesete law. After being disbanded, the group reorganised as the People's Party and remains the largest party in parliament.
The royal insult law shields the crown from criticism and carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years. Opponents of the law say it has been used to stifle opposition.
"We have started calling relevant individuals to hear the facts," National Anti-Corruption Commission deputy secretary-general Sarote Phuengrampan told Reuters, adding an investigative panel had been established.
"We are not calling all 44, only some of them," he said.
"This step is to collect evidence, but no one has been charged yet."
Under the commission's procedures, if the panel finds sufficient evidence of unethical behaviour, it would then charge people, who can present a defence before a decision is taken on whether to prosecute them in court.
Move Forward were the surprise winners of last year's elections, supported by urban and youth voters who favoured its anti-establishment policies including military reform and undoing business monopolies. However, it was blocked from forming a government by lawmakers allied with the royalist military.
A court previously handed a lifetime ban from politics to a Move Forward politician over social media posts that were deemed disrespectful to the monarchy.
Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, writing by Chayut Setboonsarng, Editing by John Mair
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
