Judicial decision on Pichet's case to be announced this Friday.
Chiang Rai MP Stripped of Political Rights Following Budget Misuse Allegations
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court has decided to strip Pichet Chuamuangphan, Deputy House Speaker and MP for the Pheu Thai Party, of his MP status and imposed a 10-year ban on his political rights. This decision comes after allegations of unlawfully influencing budget allocations for projects in his Chiang Rai constituency.
The court found sufficient grounds that Pichet violated Section 144 of the Constitution, which prohibits lawmakers from altering or adding to the budget bill in a manner that leads to the misuse of state funds.
The case was filed by People's Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm and 120 other MPs. The objections were raised because Pichet's seminar proposals did not comply with parliamentary regulations. The Office of Policy and Planning and Office of Finance raised these objections, and the funds allocated for these seminar proposals were later reallocated to other initiatives.
Pichet, a Pheu Thai MP, directed his adviser to draft seminar proposals focused primarily on his home province. He stands accused of influencing the approval of three budget proposals from the Secretariat of the House of Representatives. These actions could potentially breach constitutional spending provisions, according to Mr Bhuntin.
The Constitutional Court is set to issue a final ruling on Friday in the case of Pichet Chuamuangphan, the first deputy House speaker. The ruling on the case is scheduled for 3pm on Friday, following final deliberations which will begin at 9.30am on Friday. The court has ordered the inclusion of both parties' closing statements in the case file.
This ruling marks a significant milestone in Thailand's political landscape, underscoring the importance of adhering to constitutional spending provisions and parliamentary regulations. Pichet's removal from his position as MP and Deputy House Speaker serves as a reminder to all lawmakers of the consequences of misusing budget allocations.
The Constitutional Court's ruling against Pichet Chuamuangphan, a Pheu Thai Party MP, marks a significant moment in Thailand's policy-and-legislation landscape, highlighting the importance of abiding by constitutional spending provisions and parliamentary regulations. This case, primarily revolving around politics, will have general-news implications as it underscores the consequences for lawmakers who misuse budget allocations.
