A group of activists is calling for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to be probed for her no-show at a House session last week, as she attended a meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel instead.
It still hurts
Businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr points to his bruised face after meeting Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan, right, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science. Mr Ekkayuth said he was punched on Feb 8 by an unidentified man at the Four Seasons Hotel after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra left the premises. THITIWANNAMONTHA
The so-called Green Political Group has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to examine the premier's ethics for skipping the House session last Wednesday.
Group representative Chaturon Boonbenjarat yesterday submitted a petition letter to Sa-ngad Patthawee, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman.
The group called for an investigation into Ms Yingluck's ethics following her private meeting at the luxury hotel on Ratchadamri Road during working hours.
In the petition, the group claimed the prime minister's presence at the hotel might have been a case of conflict of interest.
The group said if her visit was not linked to any conflict of interest, she should have told the public what she was doing there.
The group insists the office must investigate the prime minister's ethics in line with Section 279 of the constitution, which requires individuals who exercise government authority to adhere to ethics, good conduct and appropriateness.
If Ms Yingluck is found to have violated these principles, the office must remove her from her post, the group said.
It also inquired about any progress in the office's move to investigate the ethics of Ms Yingluck and cabinet secretary-general Amphon Kittiamphon over the controversial appointments of Prime Minister's Office minister Nalinee Taveesin and Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Nattawut Saikuar.
In its previous petition submitted to the office, the Green Political Group questioned the qualifications of the two new ministers.
Ms Nalinee is on a United States blacklist for her alleged business dealings with the regime of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, while Mr Nattawut is a core red shirt leader who was involved in the political unrest in April-May, 2010.
Controversial businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr said he was present at the Four Seasons Hotel when Ms Yingluck turned up for her meeting.
He said he was assaulted by someone at the hotel that same afternoon. He believes his assailant was a man in uniform with ties to Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's elder brother.
He challenged Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung yesterday to meet him in front of the press to get to the bottom of the attack.
Mr Ekkayuth said on his website thaiinsider.com that Mr Chalerm had seen footage of the assault from the hotel's security cameras.
He also claimed police know who the mastermind behind the assault is, as well as the identity of his attacker.
Mr Chalerm insisted he knew nothing about the attack, and asked Mr Ekkayuth to report the assault to police.
Meanwhile, Mr Ekkayuth yesterday met Central Institute of Forensic Science director Porntip Rojanasunan to ask the institute to examine his injuries after two hospitals refused to give him a medical certificate.
Khunying Porntip said forensic doctors examined his injuries, but they could not issue him a medical certificate as the businessman did not attend the institute until four days after the assault, and his injuries had healed somewhat.