Probe targeting Pheu Thai seen as ruse to prop up govt

A group of Pheu Thai Party members is gunning to cancel a graft probe into 40 ex-lawmakers from the party in relation to an amnesty bill put to the House five years ago that critics say was designed to support ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The 40 former politicians supported the controversial bill in 2013 which critics claim was intended to nullify corruption cases dating from 2006 that involved Thaksin, the older brother of fugitive former prime minister Yingluck.

The bill triggered mass street protests that led to the military coup in May 2014 which ironically toppled the Pheu Thai-led administration.

The latest group of former MPs lodged a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) yesterday demanding it abort its investigation.

The group is led by Worachai Hema, who was among those who sponsored the amnesty bill years earlier.

The 40 ex-lawmakers were targeted after they signed their names in support of the bill and forwarded it to the House of Representatives during the Yingluck administration.

Now their peers claim they are “seeking justice” from the NACC, which they insist lacks the authority to investigate the matter. The commission set up its inquiry panel in August.

The plaintiff group said the NACC has overstepped its mark by interfering with the power of the legislative branch.

They claim the 40 MPs were entitled to scrutinise draft laws and so are immune from legal action.

It also accused NACC president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit and NACC member Supa Piyajitti of conflict of interest.

They said the two commissioners helped vet the recent organic law on the NACC and changed it to allow commissioners — who are under-qualified to carry on serving according to the constitution — to keep their posts.

Some claim the NACC probe aims to get rid of opponents of the regime.