Court clears Sira of abusing his power

The Constitutional Court yesterday cleared Palang Pracharath Party’s Sira Jenjaka of abuse of power in relation to claims he interfered in a condominium project in Phuket last year, paving the way for him to file a counter-suit against fellow MPs who brought the case to court.

Mr Sira, a Bangkok MP, confirmed he was mulling legal action. If he decided to go ahead with action against the 57 MPs who signed a petition to initiate the case against him in the Constitutional Court, it would be “payback time” and a way of teaching lawmakers to be responsible for their actions.

The petition was submitted to the court via Parliament President Chuan Leekpai.

Mr Sira was embroiled in a conflict with local police when he travelled to Phuket in August last year and visited the site of an exclusive hillside condominium and villa project which had been suspended pending a Supreme Administrative Court ruling on its land status.

The 2.1-billion-baht project in tambon Karon, Muang district, was highlighted by Mr Sira who claimed it occupied land whose Nor Sor 3 Kor paper had been revoked.

The project’s operator maintained the land was bought in good faith and admitted the land ownership document had been cancelled by a court order.

However, an appeal was lodged with the Supreme Administrative Court and, until a court ruling was handed down, the project was put on hold.

During his visit, Mr Sira argued with a senior policeman after he said he was “not receiving protection from local police”.

He claimed he was the target of a death threat over his investigation into the project.