Ex-audit commission chairman gets 3-year suspended jail term
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The Supreme Court Wednesday handed a suspended sentence of three years in jail to a former audit commission chairman convicted of a lapse of duty in 2001.
The high court’s decision effectively ended the long-drawn-out court battle stemming from infighting at the State Audit Commission.
As commission chairman in 2001, Panya Tantiwarong at his own discretion chose three candidates for the position of auditor general.
The three were Prathan Dabphet, Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka and Nonthapon Nimsomboon.
The Senate eventually voted to nominate Jaruvan for the royal appointment.
Prathan and public prosecutors jointly tried Panya for a lapse of duty.
The prosecution contended that Panya was obliged under state audit law to nominate only one candidate, which should have been Prathan, who had secured the endorsement of the selection committee.
In 2006, the lower court convicted and sentenced Panya to three years in jail.
The Nation
