An activist on Monday called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke his power under Section 44 of the interim constitution to remove the Bangkok police chief for receiving monthly payments as an adviser to Thailand's largest alcoholic drinks seller.
Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, said he would file petitions against the prime minister and junta chief with concerned agencies if he did not act on this issue.
“If there is no conclusion, [this case] will set a bad example. Such payments for consultancy services may be considered a kickback,” he said.
Pressure mounts for Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn to quit. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Mr Srisuwan made the call after he petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn for receiving the 50,000-baht monthly payment from Thai Beverages Plc as an adviser to the firm since last year.
He said Pol Lt Gen Sanit was responsible for enforcing the law on alcoholic beverage control and was a member of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly. Since the issue came to light, Pol Gen Sanit has declined to comment on the matter.
Mr Srisuwan said the Bangkok police chief's advisory role represented a conflict of interest and he should resign. His action may be in violation of not only the anti-graft act, but also the national police law and those on offences committed by state officials, as well as the PM's Office regulation on giving and taking gifts.
He filed the same petition at the Office of the Ombudsman on Dec 13.
Mr Srisuwan likened Pol Lt Gen Sanit’s case to that of former prime minister Samak Sundaravej whose premiership was nullified in 2008 by the Constitutional Court, which found his paid appearance on a TV cooking show constituted a conflict of interest.
Therefore, he said, Gen Prayut should use his Section 44 power to remove Pol Lt Gen Sanit from his job as he had done with other government officials.
The junta has suspended from duty several government officials allegedly involved in irregularities, claiming this would pave the way for a transparent investigation into their actions.
The activist said he decided to petition the NACC to speed up the investigation after he felt the Royal Thai Police had tried to defend Pol Lt Gen Sanit. Last week, the police force said its senior officer had not breached the National Police Act since the law barred an officer from being a member of the executive committee of a company or having control over its management, but did not prohibit an officer from taking an advisory role.