Anti-graft body claims” extreme ethical misconduct” warrants filing a lawsuit in court.
PUBLISHED: 25 Apr 2024 at 14: 27
Former deputy agriculture minister Supachai Phosu was found guilty of serious ethical misconduct in connection with the illegal occupation of a forest reserve in Nakhon Phanom province by the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC).
NACC official Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said on Thursday that the organization will forward the case to the Supreme Court for political office buyers to receive a decision.
In the Thai Uthen city of Nakhon Phanom province’s Dong Prathai jungle reserve, Mr. Supachai was discovered to have illegally occupied 220 ra of land. The NACC found no evidence of Nor Sol 2 property ownership records for 40 narratives covering 220 ray, said Mr Niwatchai.
In three separate resource declarations to the NACC, Mr. Supachai claimed to be occupying 40 land plots totaling 220 ra and designated as Nor Sol 2 in tambon Prathai of Tha Uthen area in the northern province.
The statements were made on January 22, 2008, on June 3, 2008, when he was appointed deputy agriculture secretary, and again on May 25, 2019 when he took company as an MP.
The legislator, who was not eligible to participate in a land-reform project in the Dong Prathai forest reserve, had signed contracts to purchase 40 plots from beneficiaries who were eligible to use the property for agricultural purposes, according to an NACC research.
The transfer of ownership of the newly renovated property is prohibited by the rules. After occupying the narratives, Mr Supachai planted plastic plants.
On July 11 and 12 of last year, Mr. Supachai, who at the time held the positions of assistant agriculture minister and deputy home speech, issued letters revokeing the right to own and use those area plots.
In October 2022, the House committee on morals of MPs, led by then-president of the legislature, Chuan Leekpai, opened an investigation into Mr. Supachai, a Bhumjaithai MP for Nakhon Pathom.
The NACC determined that the MP’s decision to hold forest area for his own gain was against the law and disregarded the administration of state and woodland resources.
As well, it said, the president’s actions deprived impoverished citizens, as well as those who owned little plots that were not enough to help themselves, of the right to obtain land for farming.
According to the NACC, these actions had severely compromised an MP and government minister’s moral standing.