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| NCCC Calls for Suspension of 3 Ministers Involved in Lottery Case |
| UPDATE : 29 July 2008 |
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The country's graft buster is calling on all three Samak Cabinet ministers implicated in the two- and three-digit lottery investigation to suspend their duties after the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case against them and 44 other defendants in the case dating back to 2003.
National Counter Corruption Commission member, Wicha Mahakhun said that all three ministers, including Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labor Minister Uraiwan Thienthong, and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas could insist on staying in office despite the fact that the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders has accepted the two-and-three digit lottery case filed by the Assets Examination Committee (AEC).
The AEC filed the malfeasance case against the Thaksin Cabinet accusing 47 defendants including former Prime Minister Thaksin and three of the current ministers for issuing the July 8th, 2003 Cabinet resolution to implement the 2 and 3 digit lottery project. The Constitution stipulates that a minister must suspend his duties if a court accepts a criminal case against him.
Despite such a provision, Wicha agreed that different people might interpret the code of laws differently.
The three accused ministers argued that they could continue serving their posts, as the lottery case took place under the previous government and the provision cannot be enforced on them.
However, Wicha said that under his interpretation, the law requires the holders of ministerial posts accused in a criminal case to not just suspend their duties, but stop their duties.
He added that the Cabinet's legal advisor could try to save the three ministers by submitting the issue to the Council of State to confirm the interpretation.
However, Wicha noted that in doing so, the government must realize the gravity of the case and the effect on its reputation because having ministers who are involved in a litigation in the Cabinet may damage the administration's credibility, especially when Finance Minister Surapong is now also in charge of the Government Lottery Office.
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