The case of lawmaker Chaiyamphawan Manpianjit who was charged by Chiang Mai police with raping a Taiwanese tourist, is the latest challenge for parliament in dealing with lawmakers accused of a serious violation of the law.
Thai law grants immunity to elected lawmakers to work while the House is in session, even if he or she is legally accused of a legal violation or wanted by a court warrant.
For serious law violations, the House speaker can order the immunity to be repealed.
Mr Chaiyamphawan, a list MP from the Thai Progressive Party, firmly denies the rape charge, insisting he had consensual sexual relations with the tourist.
Moreover, he has accused Chiang Mai police of demanding a 400,000 bribe from him and then pressing the rape charge when he refused to pay the kickback.
Instead of resigning, as advised by many MPs and senators, Mr Chaiyamphawan has vowed to serve the public in the House until the session ends in April and will go on to prove his innocence.
Meanwhile, the Taiwanese tourist who made the rape accusation has left the country.
It must be noted that this young MP is no stranger to sex scandals.
Two years ago, his then party -- the now defunct Move Forward Party -- expelled him and another elected MP after an internal party probe found there were grounds for sexual harassment accusations against the two.
After being dismissed, he moved to the newly formed Thai Progressive Party.
The onus now falls on House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha to decide whether to repeal parliament immunity.
We can only hope that the House speaker will not repeat the same idle stance as it did last year with Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, a former Army Region 4 Commander and a Pheu Thai Party list-MP, who was wanted to stand trial in the Narathiwat Criminal Court over the notorious Tak Bai case.
Apart from kicking the can down the road, Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangpan of Pheu Thai approved his leave request. That enabled the MP, who was wanted on a court warrant, to leave the country and wait for the court case to expire.
Indeed, the House can do more to raise the standards of parliament.
Senator and leading human rights activist Angkhana Neelapaijit has urged the Lower House to launch a quick probe into the sexual assault accusation to provide fairness to both MP Chaiyamphawan and the Taiwanese tourist.
The probe can also investigate the allegation that the police demanded a bribe from the lawmaker.
The House must also assist the Taiwanese woman and any witnesses to attend court sessions. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) must likewise ensure that the rape accusation is water-tight and that both sides can present their evidence.
Above all, lawmakers and politicians should be setting the right example when it comes to behaviour and show that they are upright model citizens.
It is such a shame that Watcharaphol Butmonkhol, leader of the Thai Progressive Party, appears clueless about Mr Chaiyamphawan's alleged behaviour, describing the case as a "personal matter".
The issue is a moral one that must be dealt with justly and correctly. Hopefully, parliament will treat it as such.