Twelve National Reform Council members have appointed people with the same family names as paid advisers, supplying more ammunition to critics of perceived nepotism among junta-appointed government bodies.
The Secretariat of the House of Representatives on Wednesday released a list of 12 NRC members who have aides with the same surname. The relationships are unclear, except for Wanchai Sornsiri, who admitted that his assistant, Chatthip, is his daughter.
The report followed the controversial findings of the National Legislative Assembly that about 70 members had hired their daughters, sons or other relatives to help them.
The NLA members have been told to remove their kin from government-paid positions and choose new advisers.
The assistants of NRC members with the same family name are eligible for a monthly salary of 15,000-24,000 baht, according to the secretariat, which handles both the NLA and NRC. However, not all do.
Mr Wanchai defended the hiring of his daughter, saying she was working as an adviser and was not being paid a government salary to do nothing.
Suvat Singhapant appointed Maj Thanyanuch Singhapant as his adviser, but said she received no compensation.
Mr Suvat noted that he asked the secretariat on Dec 15 to temporarily transfer Maj Thanyanuch from the army to help him. The request was approved by the army on Jan 1, he told the Isra News agency, adding that she agreed not to receive a salary.
"In order to save the state budget, I expressed my desire that she would not receive a salary. Maj Thanyanuch was informed and agreed to this," the online news website quoted him as saying.
NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana promised to solve the problem by taking the issue to the NRC whips, who held a meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Thienchay called for understanding from the public, as some NRC members told the secretariat that their advisers would work for free, according to Isra News.
The NRC chairman had said earlier that hiring of family members was legal, but remained an "ethical decision" members needed to make. He added that he hoped any NRC members found to have hired family would follow the NLA's lead and remove them.
Mr Wanchai said he was ready to follow any decision made by the NRC whips.
Other NRC members listed by the secretariat as having hired advisers are Uthai Sonluksub (who employed Panida Sonluksub); Ubon Limsakul (Phanomda Limsakul); Kittiphon Thungklang (Pussorn Thungklang); Kusaimahwansafinah Manoonthawee (Abedeen Manoonthawee); Charus Suthigoolabutr (Narongchai Suthigoolabutr); Jarernsak Salakij (Phisut Salakij); Tiwar Kankrasang (Sakon Kankrasang); Teerasak Panichwit (Natchanon Panichwit); ACM Manas Roobkajorn (Watcharadej Roobkajorn); and Sayumporm Limthai (Isara Limthai).