Niphon stands down to battle graft case

2013 malfeasance charge refuses to go away

Niphon Bunyamanee talks to reporters at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Monday. Apichart Jinakul
Niphon Bunyamanee talks to reporters at the Criminal Court just for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Monday. Apichart Jinakul

Niphon Bunyamanee, a deputy leader of the Democrat Celebration, has resigned because deputy interior minister to fight a court case regarding alleged malfeasance whilst he was leader of the Songkhla provincial administration organisation (PAO) in 2013.

Mr Niphon said he knowledgeable suspended Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Prayut Chan-o-cha of his resignation yesterday morning, and he informed Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the Democrat Party leader, on Sunday evening. His resignation had taken effect on Monday.

It was commented on that Mr Niphon chose to point out Gen Prayut simply by name but not performing Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

He said this individual told Gen Prayut and Mr Jurin that he did not want to fight the case whilst holding a ministerial post, even though this individual felt under no pressure to step down from the Democrat Party.

The particular National Anti-Corruption Payment (NACC) has ruled there are grounds to charge Mr Niphon under Section 157 of the Criminal Program code for refusing to pay for Ponlavit Tech Plus Co 52 mil baht for street maintenance vehicles the Songkhla PAO called for by tender when Mr Niphon has been its president in 2013.

The NACC at first ordered Mr Niphon to report to the particular Criminal Court for Corruption and Wrong doings Cases on Aug 18.

Mr Niphon questioned the NACC for the postponement to Sept 22, saying he or she was engaged along with official duties.

The NACC rescheduled the reporting date to Sept 5.

Mr Niphon mentioned he had chosen to resign on that day time as it marked the beginning of the judicial procedure. He also published a message on Facebook announcing his choice.

He or she said he could not pay Ponlavit Technology Plus Co, which usually won the bidding to sell road upkeep vehicles to the Songkhla PAO, because the customers were found to get forged documents and indulged in price collusion, causing damage to the particular PAO.

The Criminal Court for Corruption plus Misconduct Cases Region 9 had issued warrants for the criminal arrest of all bidders, such as the winning company as well as its subsidiaries. Most of the potential foods had fled abroad.

The particular suspects who were caught have been indicted in Criminal Court just for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region nine, he said.

“Today, I am ready to fight the situation in court to prove that my refusal to pay the bid-winning company has been to protect the nation’s interest and not the malfeasance I have been offender of by the NACC. If we could return to that time, I would still insist on not having to pay the company, ” this individual wrote.