Graft panel to probe MPs, Worachai over amnesty bill
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to launch a criminal inquiry into alleged abuse of power by Worachai Hema for sponsoring the amnesty bill in 2013 and 310 other MPs for voting to adopt it.
“[The NACC] will conduct an investigation on criminal charges. Discharging them from their duty will not happen,” Wicha Mahakhun, a member of the NACC, said yesterday.
Demotion as a punishment was also dropped after the constitution of 2007 was superseded by the provisional charter of 2014, he said.
The anti-graft panel had reportedly received a petition in August, 2013, to probe Worachai and the other members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party for overstepping their authority in proposing and adopting the bill.
On May 14, 2014, the NACC agreed to accept the case for investigation.
Bill conflicts with 2007 charter
It was said that the amnesty bill conflicted with Articles 122-125 of the 2007 constitution, which stressed the primacy of the people under the constitution and protected politicians from being overridden by the interests of any group in particular.
This also included the infringement of the United Nations Convention against Corruption of 2003.
In 2013, Worachai proposed the controversial amnesty bill and the other MPs voted to adopt it.
The bill had passed its first reading and could have granted amnesty to the leaders of the red shirts and the yellow shirts.
Also, it could have allowed the return of exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
