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by IANS |
Bangkok, Oct 7 (IANS) Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee has been asked to step down both as Deputy Interior Minister and Deputy Leader of the Democrat party after being implicated in a malfeasance case by the national anti-graft body for wrongdoing.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has implicated Niphon in a malfeasance charge brought on by his refusal to pay Ponlavit Tech Plus Co 50.8 million baht for repairing two multi-purpose vehicles belonging to Songkhla provincial administrative organisation when Niphon served as its president in 2013, Bangkok post reported.
The latest call for his resignation came on Tuesday from his fellow Democrat Deputy leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot. Political activist Srisuwan Janya last week urged Niphon to relinquish the posts he is holding in the Cabinet and on the party executive board after he was implicated by the NACC.
Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, the NACC chairman said last Friday the commission's sub-panel dedicated to investigating graft has found grounds to the charge against the Deputy Minister.
However, the sub-panel's findings will need to be looked at by the main commissioners who will decide whether to forward the case to prosecutors.
The Songkhla Administrative Court on November 7, 2017, ruled in favour of Ponlavit Tech Plus C and ordered the Songkhla organisation to pay it 52 million baht, which includes 7 per cent interest per year, according to the NACC.
Even though Niphon protests his innocence, he still should resign for the sake of preserving the Democrats' reputation, said Alongkorn, adding that several key figures in the party have voluntarily resigned when they found themselves in a similar situation, including former public health minister Witthaya Kaewparadai.
Alongkorn insisted he and Niphon have been friends for almost 30 years and that Niphon performs his duties very well
