House Speaker Chuan Leekpai has ordered a probe into a bribery allegation made against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ahead of the no-confidence vote, said Sukij Atthopakorn, an adviser to Mr Chuan yesterday.
The allegation was made during the censure debate by Wisarn Techathirawat, a Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai, who accused Gen Prayut of paying 5 million baht to some MPs in exchange for votes of support.
Dr Sukij said Mr Chuan has instructed the House secretariat office to launch the investigation because the accusation is serious and tarnishes the image of the House.
Mr Chuan has also asked Mr Wisarn to fully cooperate with the investigation, according to Dr Sukij.
Gen Prayut, who strongly denied the allegation, accused Mr Wisarn of being irrational, saying he expected certain action to be taken against the Pheu Thai MP.
The prime minister said it was not the first time the Pheu Thai MP had behaved erratically.
Mr Wisarn caused a stir during a special parliament session in October last year when he drew a fruit knife and slit his left lower arm three times to protest against Gen Prayut's handling of the street protests.
Weerakorn Khamprakop, a Palang Pracharath Party MP for Nakhon Sawan, said yesterday he was among a group of MPs who met the prime minister on Thursday to offer him their moral support.
Mr Weerakorn said that the PPRP had asked its member Ruangkrai Leekitwattana to lodge a complaint against Mr Wisarn with the National Anti-Corruption Commission over the false allegation.
The Pheu Thai MP's remarks had been senseless and damaging to the reputation of the House, according to Mr Weerakorn.