The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has petitioned the Senate to remove Senate Speaker Nikhom Wairatpanich for his role in an "illegal" attempt to change the make-up of the Senate.
NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljieak said Wednesday the anti-graft panel sent the request to the Senate on Tuesday and the matter has since been sent to the upper House.
The next step will be for the Senate to consider impeaching Mr Nikhom which will require a vote of at least three-fifths of senators present at an impeachment meeting.
In another impeachment case, the NACC will today decide on the proposed impeachment of former parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont, who was accused of the same wrongdoing as Mr Nikhom.
Both are among 383 former MPs and senators who voted to pass the draft charter amendment seeking to change the make-up of the Senate to a fully elected chamber.
The NACC’s decision to press charges against Mr Nikhom was based on the Constitution Court’s ruling that the charter amendment to establish a fully elected Senate was in breach of Section 68 of the constitution that prohibits unconstitutional efforts to seize power.
Meanwhile, a source at the Election Commission (EC) said the NACC has decided to impeach caretaker Deputy Interior Minister Wisarn Techathirawat as he failed to inform the NACC chairman within 30 days of assuming office that his wife had a stake of more than 5% in a company’s registered capital.
The failure violates a law governing ministers’ partnerships and shares.
According to the source, the NACC sent its proposal to impeach Mr Wisarn through the EC to the Constitution Court.
The court has the authority to make the final decision on Mr Wisarn’s case.