Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam insists it is not illegal that Defence permanent secretary Preecha Chan-o-cha's son used the family residence on a military base as an address to register his construction company. But he did question whether the action was appropriate.
Speaking Wednesday at Government House, Mr Wissanu said if Gen Preecha's son, Mr Pathompol, has a house on a military base, it is possible for him to use the address to register his company.
No law or regulations ban this practice, he said, explaining an address of a house where one lives can be used for company registration, whether it be rented accommodation or a state officer's residence.
He said revelations that Gen Preecha's son registered a company on a military base had prompted public criticism.
Mr Pathompol registered Contemporary Construction Co in 2012 using his family home at the 3rd Army Region camp in Phitsanulok.
Critics say the government appears to be turning a blind eye to improper conduct when committed by people within its own ranks, while pursuing evidence of impropriety in others.
With registered capital of only 1.5 million baht, Mr Pathompol's firm was awarded several 3rd Army Region projects between December 2014 and April this year worth a total of 97 million baht.
In 2015, the company had total revenue of 45,342,927 baht, with net profit of 1,968,111 baht according to Isranews.
However, Mr Wissanu acknowledged Mr Pathompol was in the wrong.
"In Thailand, several things shouldn't be done in principle, but some people do them," he said.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Gen Paiboon Koomchaya, who also serves as president of the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission dismissed a report the PACC will look into Mr Pathompol's case, saying the Auditor-General's Office and National Anti-Corruption Commission have taken up the probe.