Bangkok Noi Councilor seeks ethics probe of BMA Council President

Matichon•General•10m ago

Reader Briefing

Napaphon Jeerakul, a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) councilor, is seeking an ethics investigation into BMA Council President Pattaraporn Kengrungruengchai over allegations of budget interference and proxy voting.

•Napaphon Jeerakul and Phinit Kanchanchusak exposed two issues involving BMA Council President Pattaraporn Kengrungruengchai.
•The allegations include interference in the budget for the Chotiwat Community Garden project in Bang Sue District.
•Napaphon Jeerakul claims there is video evidence of proxy voting during a BMA Council meeting.
•Complaints have been filed with the BMA Council, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and the Ministry of Interior.

Overview

•On November 13, the Democrat Party launched the 'Good MP You Can Be Season 2' campaign where the allegations were presented.
•Phinit Kanchanchusak received a complaint on November 7 from a company regarding delayed payments for the Chotiwat Community Garden project.
•Napaphon Jeerakul alleges Pattaraporn Kengrungruengchai issued a letter on August 29 demanding design changes to the garden project despite the work being completed.
•Napaphon Jeerakul claims that video footage shows a member pressing a voting button for another member during a BMA Council meeting.
•Napaphon Jeerakul reports that a committee of 3 members found the proxy voting allegations had merit, but the video evidence has not been officially released to him.
•Napaphon Jeerakul intends to request that the ethics committee's deliberations be broadcast live for public transparency.
•Napaphon Jeerakul stated that if appropriate consideration is not made, legal action may be pursued under Section 157 and Section 172 of the NACC law.
•Napaphon Jeerakul will submit a letter to the BMA Council President to investigate the BMA Council President's own ethics.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang

"If this is what transparency looks like, it's a fake."

ถ้าโปร่งใสแบบนี้ ตีเก๊

Key Entities

Person

Napaphon Jeerakul(นภาพล จีระกุล)

A BMA councilor for Bangkok Noi District from the Democrat Party.

Phinit Kanchanchusak(พินิจ กาญจนชูศักดิ์)

A BMA councilor for Samphanthawong District and member of the BMA Council's Administration and Order Maintenance Committee.

Pattaraporn Kengrungruengchai(ภัทราภรณ์ เก่งรุ่งเรืองชัย)

President of the BMA Council and a BMA councilor for Bang Sue District from the People's Party.

Abhisit Vejjajiva(อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ)ℹ️

Former Prime Minister and leader of the Democrat Party.

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang(พงศกร ขวัญเมือง)

Spokesperson for the Democrat Party.

Organization

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)

The political party led by Abhisit Vejjajiva.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party to which Pattaraporn Kengrungruengchai belongs.

BMA Council(สภากทม.)

The legislative body of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)

The National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The Thai government ministry to which Napaphon Jeerakul submitted a complaint.

Place

Bang Sue District(เขตบางซื่อ)ℹ️

The district where the Chotiwat Community Garden project is located.

Bangkok Noi District(เขตบางกอกน้อย)ℹ️

The district represented by Napaphon Jeerakul.

Samphanthawong District(เขตสัมพันธวงศ์)ℹ️

The district represented by Phinit Kanchanchusak.

Law

Official Information Act(พ.ร.บ.ข้อมูลข่าวสาร)

The law cited by the BMA Council legal team regarding the release of video evidence.

Section 157(มาตรา 157)

The legal section regarding dereliction of duty or abuse of power by officials.

Organic Act on Anti-Corruption 2018(พ.ร.ป. ว่าด้วยการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริต พ.ศ. 2561)

The law encompassing Section 172 mentioned by Napaphon Jeerakul.