PUBLISHED : 9 Oct 2024 at 06:26
Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana is intensifying efforts to challenge Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra by formally petitioning the Election Commission (EC) to investigate her recent appointments of Surapong Suebwonglee and Nattawut Saikua, both of whom have prior criminal convictions.
Surapong, a former finance minister, and Nattawut, a former director of the Pheu Thai party, were appointed as advisors on September 16 and October 4, respectively, despite their past legal issues.
Ruangkrai cited a recent Constitutional Court ruling that led to the ousting of former prime minister Srettha Thavisin due to ethical violations linked to the appointment of ex-convict Pichit Chuenban as a cabinet minister involved in bribery.
Drawing parallels to this ruling, Ruangkrai suggested that Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s appointments could similarly jeopardize her position under Sections 170 and 160 of the constitution. He has requested expedited review of the complaint by the EC, urging that the case be forwarded to the Constitutional Court for consideration, potentially leading to her suspension pending a final ruling as stated in Section 82.
In 2016, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders sentenced Surapong to a year in prison related to shareholding in Thaicom, along with a suspended sentence related to another case of malfeasance from 2008.
Surapong was appointed deputy chairman of the government adviser panel on September 16, while Nattawut, previously a leader of the red-shirt movement, received a two-year and eight-month sentence for his role in a violent 2007 protest, before being named to the advisory panel on October 4.
