Ombudsman drops charges on govt appointments

“The PM did not pay attention to the ethical issues before she finalised the two appointments and she should therefore review them,” chief ombudsman Panit Nitithanprapas said.

She added that giving Nalinee and Natthawut the Cabinet positions did not violate the code of ethics because the legal issues involving them were still inconclusive. For instance, she said, the US Treasury sanction against Nalinee for her link with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe was still under appellate process, while terrorism charges against Natthawut in relation to the 2010 turmoil were under judicial review. 

She went on to say that the ombudsman found that Cabinet secretary-general Ampon Kittiampon had not lapsed in his duty when vetting qualifications of the two as per relevant laws and prescribed procedures. However, in the face of Natthawut’s and Nalinee’s questionable activities, the Cabinet Secretariat should strengthen its vetting of nominees to avoid controversies, she said. 

Panit added the Yingluck had 30 days to decide as to whether the appointments should be reconsidered, and if the deadline passed without a review, then the office was obliged to submit its report to Parliament. 

There is no penalty for ignoring the review and controversial appointments are not a cause for impeachment, she added.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his party welcomed the ombudsman’s ruling. 

“The government is empowered to make executive appointments |and the ruling has set a clear precedent barring opponents to play politics with [the Cabinet line-up],” he said.