The Senate's ethics panel will summon Senator Thani Onlahiad for questioning if he is complicit in an abuse of power case involving a police corporal accused of abusing her maid after reviewing all the papers and evidence, a spokesman of the committee said yesterday.
The spokesman, Senator Somchai Sawangkarn, was commenting after the committee met to consider a petition filed by former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong to determine whether Sen Thani is in breach of regulations by helping Pol Cpl Kornsasi Buayaem and her maid get state positions.
Sen Somchai said there are still more details to look into but he said several meetings will be held on Sept 5, 8 and 12 respectively. He will also ask for all relevant evidence and documents and will call Mr Watchara to give more information.
A photo that showed the names of Sen Thani and Pol Cpl Kornsasi as temple donors in Ratchaburi will be taken into consideration, as will the proposal by Mr Watchara to allow Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, the assistant national police chief, to join the investigation.
Sen Somchai said the meeting also resolved to call Gen Singsuk Singpai, the first vice president of the Senate who chairs the committee, to sign letters to Royal Thai Police (RTP), Royal Thai Army and Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) and Isoc's Region 4 Forward Command asking for more information.
He also said if the panel decides that the offence is severe, the case will be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. If it's not, the matter will be sent to a Senate meeting instead.
According to the minutes of a House committee meeting in 2019, Pol Cpl Kornsasi was appointed as honorary adviser to the panel on Sept 24 without any payment, but she was also found to have been appointed as an adviser on Oct 3 with a monthly stipend of 6,000 baht.