EC to decide on Chuwit's MP status on February 25
The Election Commission (EC) will decide on February 25 whether Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit is qualified to be a member of Parliament.
A complaint against Chuwit was filed by a man named Somkid Hom-naet, who referred to himself as “an independent academic”. Somkid claimed that some Bt3 million cash, which belongs to Chuwit, has been frozen by the state and that he had made a false declaration in his application form to run for Parliament last year.
On March 16 last year, Bt3.3 million belonging to Chuwit was frozen following a Supreme Court order and the money was eventually confiscated by the state in relation to Chuwit’s business activities with a company he owns called Ho Pacific. Somkid said that though Chuwit must be aware of the court ruling, he declared himself fit to run while filling the application form, which is a public document, on July 3 last year thus possibly violating the criminal law.
According to the Constitution, a person whose assets have been seized on grounds of unusual wealth cannot be a member of Parliament.
EC chairperson Apichart Sukhagganond said if the EC makes the recommendation to disqualify Chuwit, the matter would be forwarded to the Constitution Court.
In a related development, former Rak Thailand Party secretary Chaiwat Krairirk said Chuwit had slandered him and vowed to file a defamation case against him.
Chaiwat, who insisted that he maintained his status as an MP, said he had resigned because of irreconcilable differences with Chuwit, whom he had known since their school days 35 years ago.
Chaiwat has been accused by Chuwit of using his political clout to have a Bt10-million road constructed in front of one of his land plots in Pak Panang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Chaiwat, a Rak Thailand Party-list MP claimed that Chuwit had lied in telling the public that he had resigned as an MP.
He slammed Chuwit, saying the party leader does not understand how a democratic system works and wanted to run the party like his company. Chaiwat said he blamed himself for first convincing Chuwit to enter politics.
“I failed to teach him about politics in a democratic system. I’m really blaming myself.”
A number of local villagers expressed their support for Chaiwat in front of Pak Panang district office yesterday as they engaged in verbal condemnation of Chuwit. There was a brief moment of humour when a Chuwit lookalike showed up but turned out to be a supporter of Chaiwat.
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