A deputy House speaker, a Move Forward party MP, has landed in hot water over his online post showing him with a new craft beer, brewed in his hometown.
Activist Srisuwan Janya filed a complaint on Tuesday with House speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who is also chairman of the House ethics committee, seeking an investigation into Padipat Suntiphada, an MP from Phitsanuloke.
Srisuwan claims that, by posting an image of the craft beer can, Padipat clearly violated section 32 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which prohibits the advertising of alcoholic beverages, as well as section 59 of the penal code.
The offence carries a fine of not more than Bt50,000 and/or a jail term of not more than one year on conviction.
In the next few days, Srisuwan said he will file a similar complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee.
Meanwhile, Democrat spokesman Rames Rattanachaveng wrote on his Facebook page that Padipat, being a deputy House speaker, should be well aware of and strictly follow the law.
He asked the House speaker to investigate the ethics of Padipat immediately, for the sake of parliament. “Parliament’s image should not be tainted by the behaviour of the Move Forward MP,” Rames wrote.
