Good-governance activists on Tuesday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to launch an ethics investigation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for nepotism in nominating members to a new government-reform body.
The Association of Organisations Protecting the Thai Constitution petition also urged that the ethics probe include Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is the brother of two men named to the National Reform Steering Assembly: Air Marshal Chalermpol Krea-ngam and Dusit Krea-ngam.
Gen Prayut on Oct 5 appointed 77 military and police officers, both active and retired, to sit on the 200-member NRSA even though the NRSA should represent people from all walks of life and not include relatives or close associates of government officials, the group said.
Association president Srisuwan Janya said it could be concluded that Gen Prayut and Mr Wissanu did not base their NRSA selections on merit, ethical standards and the law, which violates conflict-of-interest principles.
They also might have violated Section 13(2) of the Ombudsman Act governing ethics of political office holders, and the Prime Minister's Office 2008 regulations on political ethics.
If the two are found to have breached the ethical standards, the case should be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further legal action and impeachment, he said.