Panel tells PM, Prawit to front

Panel tells PM, Prawit to front

The House standing committee on corruption on Wednesday insisted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, must testify in person before the committee over the premier's incomplete oath recital and the government's proposing of the fiscal year 2020 budget bill.

Seri Ruam Thai Party leader Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, in his capacity as the chairman of the committee, said that the panel voted six to three to approve the resolution.

The decision was reached after Pol Gen Sereepisuth refused to allow Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit's representatives to present their written testimonies. He said both would be required to testify in person before the committee next Wednesday.

"No one else is permitted by law to testify on their behalf," said Pol Gen Sereepisuth yesterday, after Deputy Defence Minister Chaichan Changmongkol was earlier appointed to represent Gen Prayut, while Prasan Wangrattanaprani, an assistant to Gen Prawit, represented the latter.

Gen Chaichan and Mr Prasan had told the media yesterday before the meeting that the fiscal year 2020 budget bill was tabled properly. As for the oath recital they said, both Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit stood by the ruling of the Constitution Court on the matter, which found it was beyond the jurisdiction of any organisation to examine the petition on the oath issue. Gen Chaichan argued the budget bill matter wasn't a misconduct case, in which the committee may have the authority to require Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit to testify in person.

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