The court for politicians has handed down a suspended two-month jail term on a Bhumjaithai MP for false asset disclosure in a ruling that could keep her away from taking political office for life.
Natee Ratchakitprakan, wife of Pitak Ratchakitprakan who was tipped to be the tourism minister in the cabinet line-up, was also banned from politics for five years for failing to disclose some assets and debts six years ago.
The ban, however, was counted from Dec 9, 2013, which meant it already ended.
The jail sentence for Natee, who is on the coalition party’s MP list, was halved because she confessed. It was also suspended for one year because she had no prior criminal records.
The assets in question were two land plots worth 2 million baht and a 93-million-baht debt of her husband which she had not disclosed when she ceased duty as a party-list MP in 2013. The case was filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
But the problem for Natee is that constitutionally a final imprisonment ruling is a disqualification for holders of political positions.
It remains to be seen whether she would automatically lose her MP status after the ruling, or someone has to ask the court to consider her status first.
But a much more serious penalty for her involves Section 235 of the charter, which stipulates anyone whose right to run in an election has been revoked, regardless of the cause, shall have no right to run for political office or hold any politicial position ever again.