Twenty found guilty of raising own wages

Today's General News - Wednesday December 12, 2007

GRAFT PANEL RULING

Twenty found guilty of raising own wages

The National Counter Corruption Commission has found 13 former Constitution Court judges, four members of the last Election Commission (EC) and three parliamentary ombudsmen guilty of unlawful self-approved pay hikes. NCCC member and spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said former labour minister Apai Chanthaehulaka was not guilty as he was made a Constitution Court judge after the pay rise took effect.

The investigation reports will go to the attorney-general for prosecution.

The accused include former EC members Pol Gen Wasana Permlap, Prinya Nakchudtree and Veerachai Naewboonnien who were sentenced by the Criminal Court in July last year to four years in jail for mismanaging the April 23, 2006 poll.

The former election commissioners signed a directive in September 2004 raising their salaries by 20,000 baht.

Former Constitution Court judge Jumpol na Songkhla, also accused, yesterday vowed to launch a legal battle, saying he only raised the judges' meeting allowance by 20,000 baht. The ceiling was 40,000.

''I am the court. The court has the power to interpret the law,'' he said.

Bangkok Post