The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is conducting a case-by-case probe into National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and National Reform Council (NRC) members who appointed their relatives as paid experts, advisers and aides.
Sansern Poljiak, secretary-general of the NACC, said yesterday the anti-graft body examined nepotism accusations against each of the 70 NLA and 12 NRC members involved.
"We are in the fact-finding phase of our investigation," Mr Sansern said, adding that graft-busters are looking for evidence that legislators appointed family members to further their personal interests.
The NACC will examine each appointment separately to determine if the relatives hired meet official requirements, including their educational qualifications and work experience, and if they are able to fulfil their professional roles as experts or advisers, he said.
If the employed relative can prove they meet the requirements, and therefore merit the position, the case will be closed, he said.
If not, NLA and NRC members can be charged with misconduct for trying to further their personal interests.
"This is where corruption begins," Mr Sansern said. In March, social activist Srisuwan Junya petitioned the anti-graft agency to look into nepotism accusations against NLA members before submitting a second petition condemning NRC members as well.
Growing public criticism has prompted the relatives of several legislators to resign. But Mr Sansern said they would still be investigated, as their resignation does not automatically absolve the NLA or NRC member.
NLA members' personal specialists, experts and assistants earn monthly salaries of 24,000 baht, 20,000 baht, and 15,000 baht, respectively.
Many members hired their daughters, sons or other relatives to serve in these positions, raising suspicions of nepotism, and the secretariat of the House of Representatives confirmed that assistants of NRC members with the same family names received monthly salaries between 15,000-24,000 baht.
The NACC's authority allows it to investigate all aspects of the matter, said Mr Sansern.
The next step is to request access to documents related to the employment of the aides from the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and the Office of the Secretary of the House of Representatives, he said.