POLITICS
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
The Constitution Court will decide the fate of Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab next Wednesday after agreeing yesterday to hear a petition brought against him for his failure to declare his wife's assets.
Secretary-general Paiboon Varahapaitoon said the court unanimously agreed the petition forwarded by Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej had ''sufficient facts'' to seek a court judgement.
The petition accuses Mr Chaiya of breaching the constitution by his failure to declare to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) his wife's large shareholding in a company within 30 days of his appointment to the cabinet.
A group of 29 senators in April petitioned the Senate leader after the minister's wife, Mrs Churai, was found to hold 25,000 undeclared shares worth 2.5 million baht in the Sap Hok Heng construction firm, which is in excess of the 5% legal limit set by the constitution.
If the court rules in favour of the senators, the minister will lose his seat in the cabinet.
Article 269 of the constitution stipulates that a minister, his or her spouse, and children who hold any shares should inform the NCCC within 30 days of the minister's appointment to the cabinet.
The shareholder is required to transfer the excess shares to a legal holding entity.
When Mr Chaiya, who took office on Feb 6, was questioned about it, he said he thought the 5% legal limit only applied to him, not his wife. He said he never intended to conceal his wealth.
Mr Paiboon said the court is also considering an alleged breach of the constitution by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and by Deputy Commerce Minister Wiroon Techapaiboon.
In Mr Samak's case, the court has been asked to rule whether the prime minister's hosting of a cooking show on commercial television was in breach of the constitution.
The court is also considering whether Mr Wiroon is still qualified to a seat in the cabinet because he failed to completely declare his assets to the NCCC when he took office, said Mr Paiboon.
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