Anti-graft body wo n’t file an appeal against the ruling that ex-PM was cleared in the case involving the B240m promotion campaign
PUBLISHED: 25 Apr 2024 at 20: 33
According to a source close to the matter, the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC ) has decided not to appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling that cleared former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and five others of malfeasance in connection with a 240 million baht public relations campaign.
After the judge determined there was no intention on the accused ‘ part to challenge the special fund in 2013 to favor a particular group that may form a conflict of interest, the NACC voted overwhelmingly against appealing the situation.
The anti- bone figure had pressed charges against Yingluck, past PM’s Office minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, Yingluck’s subsequently- secretary- public Suranand Vejjajiva, Matichon Plc, Siam Sport Syndicate Plc, and Siam Sport director Ravi Lohtong.
From August 2013 to March 2014, the NACC alleged, Yingluck, Mr Niwatthamrong and Mr Suranand abused their power by failing to call people contracts for the PR strategy. The multimedia companies Matichon and Siam Sport, who won the deals, ultimately benefited from this.
Without holding a buying contest, Yingluck, Mr. Niwatthamrong, and Mr. Suranand contracted Matichon to carry out a plan in 12 counties to promote infrastructure projects that the authorities intended to use$ 2 trillion ringgit.
The special roadshow was canceled when the Constitutional Court eventually decided that the proposed legislation to help the borrowing was illegal. The 240 million baht spent on the plan was wasted, said the NACC.
The Supreme Court claimed that the Yingluck administration’s transportation infrastructure projects had been approved by government organizations and the government at the time. As well, the Budget Bureau agreed that she, as the prime minister, may manage a emergency fund for the PR job.
The court determined that no harm was caused to the position as a result of Matichon and Siam Sport receiving the deal and the distribution of the PR money.
Thus, the NACC had no legal basis on which to do an allure, the source said.
Thepthai Senapong, a previous Democrat Party MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, said that the NACC’s choice to ignore the situation means that one more problem has been removed from the way to former top Thaksin Shinawatra regaining whole political control of the government.
Both Thaksin and his girlfriend Yingluck fled the country at various times to avoid punishment from the Supreme Court: Thaksin for helping his then-wife get perfect area in Bangkok at a discount while he was prime minister, and Yingluck for dereliction of duty in connection with a rice-pledging program that cost at least 500 billion ringgit in deficits, some of it from fraud.
It’s been speculated that Yingluck might follow suit now that Thaksin has returned to the country and has been granted parole without ever spending a night behind bars.
They would both work to cement the hold of the ruling Pheu Thai Party — now led by Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn — on power, said Mr Thepthai.