Former police inspector picked for NACC
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Pol General Sathaporn Laothong, a former police inspector, was appointed by the Senate yesterday as a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Senate voted 76-43 to install Sathaporn to the position after a five-hour debate in Parliament. He will replace Medhi Krongkaew, who retired.
Sathaporn’s qualifications were the subject of hot debate yesterday. Some senators led by Somchai Sawaengkarn said people chosen to be anti-graft commissioners should have served at a level no lower than director-general. The position of police inspector is not equivalent to the level of a director-general.
But many other senators led by Direk Thuengfang argued that Sathaporn was qualified, as his previous position was indeed the same level as a director-general.
Finally, the session decided by majority vote to endorse Sathaporn, but Somchai said he would appeal to the Constitution Court to rule on doubts in regard to the qualifications for anti-graft commissioners.
