The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has dismissed a petition from the Election Commission, asking the corruption watchdog to determine whether former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had committed gross ethical violations over the appointment of Phichit Chuenban, a lawyer of the Shinawatra family, as a political appointee.
NACC Spokesman Surapong Intarathawon, in his capacity as the acting secretary-general of the national corruption watchdog, said yesterday that the NACC has ruled that Paetongtarn did not violate any ethical standards, because the appointment in question was made when Paetongtarn was not yet the prime minister, just Pheu Thai party leader.
Hence, Paetongtarn was not regarded as a political officer holder when Phichit was named as a political appointee.
Phichit and two colleagues, while representing Thaksin Shinawatra, were found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to six months in prison in 2008, for attempting to bribe court officials by handing them a paper bag containing two million baht in cash.
Phichit was appointed PM Office minister in May 2024, by then Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He resigned three months later, when his qualifications were questioned regarding his imprisonment.
Srettha was ultimately removed from the office by an order of the Constitutional Court.
