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October 2003 : Rakkiat Imprison

The political crime section of the Supreme Court ruled former Health Minister Rakkiat Suthana guilty on bribery therefore he will be imprisoned for 15 years. The Senate passed the draft bill on Provincial Administration Organization while the House approved principle of the draft bill on direct election of the chief executive of Tambon.

Seven members of the National Counter Corruption term expired. The Human Rights Commission sacked Secretariat Chuchai Supawong while Nondhburi bye-election result announced.

15-year imprisonment for Rakkiat

Rakkiat Suthana former Health Minister was ruled guilty by the political section of the Supreme Court. His penalty in regards to article 149 of the Criminal Code is 15 years imprisonment. He was pressed charge of receiving 5 million baht bribe from two medical companies in order to cancel the 1993 standard medicine price list. The company will benefit from higher trading than market price.

After the trial was over and Mr. Rakkiat did not preside, the court put up an arrested warrant.

Earlier Mr. Rakkiat was also found guilty by the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court on unusual wealth of 233 million baht and submitted fake asset list simultaneously.

Direct election of chief executive provincial bill passed

The Senate voted 124 to 8 to pass the draft bill on Provincial Administration Organization without any modification. The bill principle is direct election of chief executive provincial. After royal approval, the bill will be enacted and the next provincial election schedules in February 2004 , 74 of the province will have direct election of their chief executive.

Direct election of Tambon executive passed

The House voted 340 with 1 abstain to approve a draft bill on Tambon Administration Organization slightly modified by the special committee on qualifications of candidates; over 30 years of age and no limitation on period of holding position on ground that Tambon chief executive will efficiently function and implement local development policy if he does not worry about his terms of service. Furthermore, a Tambon of less than 2,000 population should be merged with other Tambon or any other adjacent local administrative authorities and new Tambon chief executive should come from direct election similar to chief executive provincial.

The draft bill will be submitted to the Senate for consideration.

7 NCCC membership expires

Seven members of the appointed National Counter Corruption Commission, selected by the appointed Senate of the former Chuan Leekpai administration, will be retired on October 24. It is expected that the selection procedure will start soon after all 15 selection panel members are named and the new NCCC will be voted by the Senate within 30 days as stated in the constitution.

Normally the NCCC term is 9 years but according to article 322 of the transitory provision of the constitution, the first NCCC panel term is only half or 4 years 6 months.

The selection panels comprises of 1.] Chief of the Supreme Court 2.] Chief of the Constitutional Court 3.] Chief of the Administration Court 4.] seven representatives of the public universities and 5.] five representatives of political parties. They will choose 14 candidates out of the applicants and submit to the Senate to vote down to 7. The retired NCCC are:
  1. Opas Arunin
  2. Kirkiat Pitakseritham
  3. Rudee Jivarak
  4. Nat Srivihok
  5. Kamol Prachuabmoh
  6. Prasert Damrongchai
  7. Virat Wattanaseritam.

Furthermore, the NCCC office is also vacant due to secretariat Klanarong Chantik retirement. Former deputy justice permanent secretary Wichienchote Sukchotrat and consultant to office of the prime minister Yongyut Kabilkarn were nominated to be pick up by the Senate.

HRC secretariat transfered

The Human Rights Commission voted 7 to 3 with 1 abstain, on October 16, to transfer secretariat Chuchai Supawong to the new position of a consultant after he served in the position for only 2 years.

After the announcement, Chuchai submitted a petition to the commission president on ground that there was no investigation and he has no chance to explain. He quoted the transfer un-justice on no reason given as required in the administrative regulations. He also said it was un-constitutional since his position received royal appointment therefore a royal consent is needed on dismissal. Chuchai will soon submit a petition to the King and file suit to the administrative court.

Some of the HRC officers back up Chuchai and submitted a petition to the King.

Nondhburi bye-election announced

The Election Commission announced on October 12 that Mrs. Pimpa Chandprasong, TRT candidates, won the election in constituency 3, Nondhburi. She received 36,966 votes while the second runner-up, Chalong Reawrang of Chart Pattana received 19,274.

There were 68,971 or 51.1 percent of total 134,972 eligible voters came to the ballot.

From : http://www.fpps.or.th