The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has indicted 36 senators on corruption charges stemming from the charter amendment bid to make the Senate fully elected.
The commission has pressed charges against 308 lawmakers — 50 of them senators, mostly elected whose terms have expired — accusing them of misconduct in connection with the draft charter amendment.
The Constitutional Court found the amendment violated Section 68 of the charter, which prohibits attempts to overthrow the monarchy and unconstitutional efforts to seize power.
NACC spokesman Sansern Poljiak said the anti-graft commissioners resolved yesterday to indict 36 former senators, out of 50, and would forward the indictments to the Senate for their impeachment.
The indicted former senators could face a five-year ban from politics.
All of the 36 ill-fated lawmakers are former elected senators.
Political observers said based on the NACC's decision on the former senators, it was possible up to 258 former MPs could face the same charges.
If those former MPs were indicted and banned from politics, it would affect the next election since most of them are expected to be fielded as candidates under Pheu Thai and its political party allies.
Of the 36 former senators, 22 were indicted because they signed to support the unlawful amendment and voted for it in all three readings.
They are Prasit Photasuthon, Somchart Phanpat, Pol Maj Gen Ong-art Suwannasingh, Direk Thuengfang, Prawat Thongsomboon, Krit Arthitkaew, Pol Lt Gen Pichai Sunthornsajjaboon, Pinyo Sainui, Phaiboon Sumsiripong, Sumeth Sriphong, Pol Lt Gen Jit Sriyoha Mikdathanapong, Surapong Tantanasrikul, Phira Manatas, Sithisak Yontrakul, Surachai Chaitrakulthong, Suwis Mekserikul, Rakpong Na Ubon, Bawornsak Kanasen, Chaturong Teerakanok, Singchai Thungthon, Yuthana Yupparit and Chuchai Lertpongadisorn.
Another 13 former senators were indicted because they signed in support of the amendment and voted for it in the first and third readings.
They are Prasert Prakhunsuksaphan, Sophon Srimalek, Tuanabdullah Daudmareyo, Pol Gen Kowit Pakdeephum, Pradit Tanwattanapong, Maj Gen Kolchai Suwanabul, Worawit Baru, Sukho Wuthichote, Thaweesak Kidbanchong, Suriya Panjor, Thanom Songserm, Boonsong Kowawisarat, and Worawit Wongsuwan.
Another who was inducted and was due to vote in the second reading of the amendment is Wittaya Innala.
The NACC has also decided it would make a decision on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's alleged dereliction of duty in allowing corruption to take place in the controversial rice-pledging scheme on May 8 or May 13.
The commission yesterday rejected the caretaker prime minister's request to allow seven more witnesses to testify in the case. It decided that those witnesses have nothing to do with the issues with which Ms Yingluck has been charged.
The findings are expected to be discussed by the investigation panel on May 6.
If the panel deems the information sufficient, the case will be concluded and submitted to the anti-graft commissioners.