GOVERNMENT
POST REPORTERS
The three cabinet ministers implicated in alleged irregularities in the two- and three-digit lottery scheme may be suspended from their duties if the Supreme Court accepts the case for consideration. A team of lawyers representing the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) yesterday submitted the indictment of 47 people allegedly involved in the mismanagement of the digit lottery scheme to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
The accused include the present Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart.
Others include ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his former cabinet ministers and officials of the Government Lottery Office.
The financial damage caused by the alleged irregularities in the lottery scheme is said to have amounted to 36.9 billion baht.
Article 55 of the anti-corruption law stipulates that when the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) decides that allegations against political office holders have grounds, the accused must stop carrying out their duties until the Supreme Court issues a verdict.
ASC secretary-general Kaewsan Atipho said the coup makers' announcement on Nov 30 gave the ASC the powers of the NCCC to handle corruption cases.
Sitthichoke Sricharoen, a lawyer representing the ASC, said he was confident the court would accept the case.
The ASC's legal team has re-investigated the case as suggested by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), he said.
Earlier, the OAG said the case lacked testimonies and evidence on how the revenues had been misused.
Mr Sitthichoke said the court would appoint a panel of nine judges responsible for the case within 14 days.
Kriangkrai Juengjaturapit, chief judge of the Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, said the court would make known its decision on whether to proceed with the case on May 14.
Mr Thaksin said he was not worried about the court proceedings against him as he did nothing wrong in the digit lottery scheme.
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