Well-known anti-graft activist Srisuwan Chanya on Tuesday petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate nepotism in the National Legislative Assembly.
Submitting a letter under the aegis of his Thai Constitution Protection Association, Mr Srisuwan, chairman of the Stop Global Warming Association, called for an inquiry following media reports that 57 of the NLA's 220 members had hired immediate-family members or relatives as personal aides, with their salaries drawn from public coffers.
Some of the NLA members reportedly had hired more than one family member at monthly salaries of 15,000-24,000 baht each.
- Background: 57 lawmakers name kin as aids
- Response: Prayut deems NLA 'nepotism' acceptable
Mr Srisuwan said the practice violated the ethical spirit of holders of political positions. It was a conflict of interest prohibited by Prime Minister's Office code of conduct rules of political office holders and the National Anti-Corruption Act, he added.
In the letter, Mr Srisuwan also asked the NACC to investigate NLA chairman Pornpetch Wichitcholachai, who issued the criteria governing appointment of NLA personal aides, advisers and specialists, and NLA secretary-general Norrawat Pimsen, who signed the orders appointing those aides.
If the NACC finds them guilty, NLA members who appointed relatives as personal aides would have to be indicted in the Supreme Court's criminal division for holders of political positions and the money paid to their aides refunded, he said.
Mr Srisuwan said he was stunned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's remark that it was the NLA members' legal right to do to hire relatives, adding that he questioned the prime minister's knowledge of the law.
He said the NLA members at issue should ask appointed relatives to resign for the sake of the NLA's reputation.
