Graft body has right to seek an inquiry

Petition could be filed with Senate

Ayutthaya

The graft commission has the right to ask the Senate to inquire into the possibility of judicial misconduct in the prime minister's asset concealment case, Senate Speaker Manoonkrit Roopkachorn said yesterday.

Maj-Gen Manoonkrit said the National Counter Corruption Commission, or other damaged parties, had the constitutional right to petition with the Senate committee for independent agencies. The panel could investigate the Constitutional Court judges and impeach any who were found to have committed malfeasance in office.

Critics argue some of the 15 judges may have made a misjudgment and given Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra a narrow escape.

"Petitions could also be lodged by Maj-Gen Sanan [Kachornprasart] and Khun Prayut [Mahakijsiri]," he said.

The senate speaker was referring to ormer interior minister Sanan and a Thai Rak Thai MP, both banned from office for five years for concealing their assets under Article 295.

He did not have to muster 50,000 supporters to call for an investigation, he said. He would not comment on whether the court applied "double standards" and insisted he considered the matter "closed".

Under the constitution, senate whips also had the right to "study" the conduct of the judges, he said.