The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has started impeaching former deputy interior minister and Pheu Thai MP Pracha Prasopdee, accused of interfering with the Market Organisation board's punitive actions against an allegedly corrupt executive in 2012.
The NLA is committed to pursuing the case, brought by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), though Mr Pracha said on Thursday he is no longer in office and claims the accusation has no grounds.
The accusation is based on NACC findings that implicate Mr Pracha in abuse of power when he ordered the Market Organisation board to delay a meeting to consider dismissing then Market Organisation director Titus Suksaard for alleged irregularities in a project to renovate its regional office in Chachoengsao.
Mr Titus faced a complaint over price collision that put the organisation at a disadvantage.
The findings of a probe were scheduled to go to the board on Nov 12, 2012. However, Mr Pracha, who oversaw the Market Organisation, allegedly ordered the board to postpone its meeting, NACC member Supa Piyajitti told the lawmakers as they started a process to consider the impeachment motion yesterday.
A similar order was also handed down to delay the board's meeting planned on Nov 12, she said.
Board chairman Samkhan Thammarat managed to call a meeting on Nov 15 which decided to fire Mr Titus. This upset Mr Pracha who blamed Mr Samkhan on the phone and issued an order to "dismiss four board members involved in the dismissal", Ms Supa said.
Though Mr Pracha supervised the Market Organisation, he had no right to interfere in the board meeting, she said, adding some of Mr Pracha's orders made before he was sworn in as deputy interior minister were also dubious.
Mr Pracha insisted on his innocence and questioned the NACC's move after some NACC members opposed it. The former Samut Prakan MP accused the corruption watchdog of not thoroughly considering his responsibilities as minister.