NLA begins impeachment proceeding against ex-foreign minister over Thaksin’s Thai passport

 

 

Former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul defended his decision to issue a new Thai passport for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra within one day, saying that the practice was not unusual.

 

Both Mr Surapong and Ms Supa Piyachitti, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, were invited to answer queries raised by members of the National Legislative Assembly during the impeachment proceedings against the ex-foreign minister at the parliament on Thursday.

 

Mr Surapong argued that there was no objection from the Royal Thai Police Office and the court against the issuance of the passport to Thaksin which, he insisted, was the discretion of the foreign permanent secretary.

 

The former foreign minister told the NLA that the granting of a Thai passport to Thaksin was a political decision which could be different from a legal one and that he didn’t think the former prime minister was a security threat.

 

Ms Supa, meanwhile, defended the qualification of Mr Pakdee Pothisiri as a member of the NACC, noting that the only authority which could rule on Pakdee’s qualification was the Constitutional Court and not the auditor-general as claimed by Mr Surapong.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nla-begins-impeachment-proceeding-ex-foreign-minister-thaksins-thai-passport/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-3-23

The verdict has already been decided.  This is just a floor show.

More comedy to follow, stay tuned for the next episode which will be as exciting as watching paint dry. 

Edited March 23, 20179 yr by Artisi

One less criminal out of politics.

2 hours ago, Cuchulainn said:

One less criminal out of politics.

But sadly, so many more who will not follow the same route.

I know it's a sin, so call me bad, but I would enjoy to see 'Tricky Thakky''s cousin, the head of the other main branch of the Shin's parasitic clan, come crashing down. And, oh my, does he deserve it, though for this one it seems he will avoid criminal charges for aiding a criminal on-the-run. Maybe in a next case then, when he'd still be in Thailand to hear the charges in Court, as it seems to be a family trait to avoid that...

I thought the purpose of impeachment was to remove somebody from office.  If they are already gone what does it achieve? 

2 hours ago, bangrak said:

I know it's a sin, so call me bad, but I would enjoy to see 'Tricky Thakky''s cousin, the head of the other main branch of the Shin's parasitic clan, come crashing down. And, oh my, does he deserve it, though for this one it seems he will avoid criminal charges for aiding a criminal on-the-run. Maybe in a next case then, when he'd still be in Thailand to hear the charges in Court, as it seems to be a family trait to avoid that...

He should avoid any charge of aiding a criminal on the run because Thaksin is not on the run. He is possibly guilty of other nefarious deeds, but 'Aiding a criminal on the run' is not one of them.

just get on with it already..........................all this s  h  I t has gone on too long, he was abusing his office by supporting a criminal on the run...............................lock him up

NLA decision on whether to impeach Surapong due next week
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will decide whether or not to impeach Pheu Thai Party politician and former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul next week.

 

If impeached, Surapong, who is known to be close to Thaksin Shinawatra, would face a lifetime ban from politics under the new constitution.

 

The NLA agreed on Thursday to hear the closing statements next Wednesday and would decide the fate of Surapong the next day over allegations of malfeasance.

 

The former foreign minister has been accused of illegally returning two Thai passports to Thaksin, once a powerful leader of Pheu Thai and an ousted prime minister, who has been living in exile after being convicted in a land case.

 

His two passports – diplomatic and normal – had been revoked by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government shortly after the court’s verdict.

 

Surapong, who was present on Thursday during the hearing in parliament, had objected to the resolution by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) bringing the case against him. He said former NACC member Phakdee Pothsiri was disqualified, as he had not resigned from a private company 15 days before taking up his post at the NACC and hence his vote in the case should be considered invalid.

 

The NLA hearing committee on Thursday posed 24 questions to both the NACC and Surapong.

 

NACC representative Supa Piyachiti insisted that Phakdee was not disqualified, as Parliament had not impeached him on the question of his qualification.

 

Supa said returning the passports to the former PM breached the Foreign Ministry’s regulations prohibiting the issuance to terrorism suspects.

 

Supa said Thaksin was on the list of the banned people. She accused the ministry of not checking this fact, and instead expediting the issuance of the passports to Thaksin in one day.

 

She said the NACC saw the former minister as behind the move, making it impossible for concerned officials to object to such an illegal process.

 

Surapong refuted the allegations. He said the issuance of the passports was a political decision, which could differ with different ministers, and it was not from a legal perspective. He said in his view Thaksin was not a threat to the country.

 

He also said the ministry had tried to contact the Royal Thai Police as well as the court regarding the blacklist, but had received no response.

 

He insisted that the issuance followed the due process and it was possible to issue passports in one day as electronic data is easily accessible.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310109

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-24

One former politico who was once on top of the world and untouchable is now facing trial by other politicos who are on top of the world and untouchable. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Supa said returning the passports to the former PM breached the Foreign Ministry’s regulations prohibiting the issuance to terrorism suspects.

Will the junta then lose their passports as well?

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

National Anti-Corruption Commission

We have this?

47 minutes ago, Jamestaylor said:

We have this?

Yes, but they don't understand the meaning of "anti" so therefore it is ignored

On 24-3-2017 at 5:37 AM, webfact said:

NLA decision on whether to impeach Surapong due next week
By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will decide whether or not to impeach Pheu Thai Party politician and former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul next week.

 

If impeached, Surapong, who is known to be close to Thaksin Shinawatra, would face a lifetime ban from politics under the new constitution.

 

The NLA agreed on Thursday to hear the closing statements next Wednesday and would decide the fate of Surapong the next day over allegations of malfeasance.

 

The former foreign minister has been accused of illegally returning two Thai passports to Thaksin, once a powerful leader of Pheu Thai and an ousted prime minister, who has been living in exile after being convicted in a land case.

 

His two passports – diplomatic and normal – had been revoked by the Abhisit Vejjajiva government shortly after the court’s verdict.

 

Surapong, who was present on Thursday during the hearing in parliament, had objected to the resolution by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) bringing the case against him. He said former NACC member Phakdee Pothsiri was disqualified, as he had not resigned from a private company 15 days before taking up his post at the NACC and hence his vote in the case should be considered invalid.

 

The NLA hearing committee on Thursday posed 24 questions to both the NACC and Surapong.

 

NACC representative Supa Piyachiti insisted that Phakdee was not disqualified, as Parliament had not impeached him on the question of his qualification.

 

Supa said returning the passports to the former PM breached the Foreign Ministry’s regulations prohibiting the issuance to terrorism suspects.

 

Supa said Thaksin was on the list of the banned people. She accused the ministry of not checking this fact, and instead expediting the issuance of the passports to Thaksin in one day.

 

She said the NACC saw the former minister as behind the move, making it impossible for concerned officials to object to such an illegal process.

 

Surapong refuted the allegations. He said the issuance of the passports was a political decision, which could differ with different ministers, and it was not from a legal perspective. He said in his view Thaksin was not a threat to the country.

 

He also said the ministry had tried to contact the Royal Thai Police as well as the court regarding the blacklist, but had received no response.

 

He insisted that the issuance followed the due process and it was possible to issue passports in one day as electronic data is easily accessible.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310109

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-24

Hmm, whether 'it has been lost in translation' in the parts I read about this scandal, ...or Mr Surapong was LYING to the media, when he was referring to the (re-)issuance of 'A' passport (singular) to Thaksin, while Ms Supa speaks of TWO passportS: a 'regular' one AND a diplomatic(mind you!) one (plural), to a convicted criminal, on the run... What Mr Surapong cannot have ignored, as he, personally, travelled abroad to hand over these passportS to his cousin! (And 'some' say there would have been several others passports issued, under alias, to the same felon, during the same very special 'session'...)

Edited March 25, 20179 yr by bangrak

On 3/23/2017 at 7:07 PM, rijb said:

The verdict has already been decided.  This is just a floor show.

 

Let's see. He doesn't deny doing it. He had the Ministry open specially, when it was closed along with the government office complex, due to the worst flood in living memory. He then hand delivered as a birthday present to his cousin, overseas in Dubai, and a fugitive convicted criminal running from a prison sentence and 15 plus more cases waiting. 

 

He then refused to answer the Ombudsman's repeated questions about it; along with his cousin the PM Ms. Yingluck.

 

His defense now, which he wouldn't lower himself to tell the Ombudsman is that it's all ok and at discretion and happened before. Perhaps he can cite all the other instances where the Foreign minister personally hand delivered new passports to a convicted crook on the run?

On 3/24/2017 at 9:30 AM, Srikcir said:

Will the junta then lose their passports as well?

 

Why should they? Have they been tried convicted freed and had their passports cancelled and illegally replaced by their cousin too?

On 3/24/2017 at 1:29 AM, baboon said:

He should avoid any charge of aiding a criminal on the run because Thaksin is not on the run. He is possibly guilty of other nefarious deeds, but 'Aiding a criminal on the run' is not one of them.

 

He his a convicted criminal who chose to flee before being handed a jail sentence. He won't return to face that sentence or the 15 plus other serious cases, like the Krungthai Bank fraud.

 

He doesn't have to run because as a billionaire he has bought other nationalities from countries that sell them and can afford to stay in luxury. Thai authorities have, afaik, made no attempt to extradite him for any of the outstanding cases.

 

However 'aiding a criminal on the run" is a Western offense in some countries. I don't now how it's worded in Thai or if the have such an offense.

 

 

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Let's see. He doesn't deny doing it. He had the Ministry open specially, when it was closed along with the government office complex, due to the worst flood in living memory. He then hand delivered as a birthday present to his cousin, overseas in Dubai, and a fugitive convicted criminal running from a prison sentence and 15 plus more cases waiting. 

 

He then refused to answer the Ombudsman's repeated questions about it; along with his cousin the PM Ms. Yingluck.

 

His defense now, which he wouldn't lower himself to tell the Ombudsman is that it's all ok and at discretion and happened before. Perhaps he can cite all the other instances where the Foreign minister personally hand delivered new passports to a convicted crook on the run?

I've been here long enough to believe that this is not about a 'crook on the run'.  Its a long game, by the elite's junta, to remain in power.

 

I don't care about Thai politics, so spare me an indignant reply.  

..karma... justice... do you know who I am... in the end..

 

On 23/03/2017 at 4:56 PM, The Old Bull said:

I thought the purpose of impeachment was to remove somebody from office.  If they are already gone what does it achieve? 

Barring them from returning to public office in the future...

..grand standing, showing the boss, who has a bigger pair, all that ...