Ruangkrai renews call for probe into PM’s businesses

Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana yesterday renewed his call for the Election Commission (EC) to investigate whether Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra properly resigned from her positions in 20 companies within the family’s business empire before being elected.
He said the EC must examine whether Ms Paetongtarn adhered to the procedures outlined by the Department of Business Development when she resigned as an executive in firms linked to her family.
He warned that failure to resign from private firms could see her dismissed, as it violates Section 187 of the constitution which prohibits ministers from holding more than 5% of shares in a commercial firm or being employed by a private company.
The political activist said that he also looked into the resignation of Deputy Interior Minister Sabida Thaised from her executive post and shareholdings in a private firm after her appointment.
He said Ms Sabida, daughter of former deputy interior minister Chada Thaised, appeared to have followed the procedures stipulated by the Department of Business Development, which raised further questions about Ms Paetongtarn’s case.
Mr Ruangkrai insisted that he was exercising his right under Sections 41 and 50 of the constitution and said he always respected the decisions made by public independent agencies.
Late last month, Mr Ruangkrai petitioned the poll agency to look into the prime minister’s status as he questioned the date of her resignation from positions in the family-linked companies.
Ms Paetongtarn was elected prime minister by the House of Representatives on Aug 16 to succeed Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court.
In the petition, Mr Ruangkrai called on the EC to look into whether Ms Paetongtarn had tendered her resignation from all executive roles in the family’s companies by Aug 15, and if so why her resignations were not registered until Aug 19, three days after she was elected.
He claimed that Ms Paetongtarn on Aug 15 sent a letter authorising a close aide to handle the documents on her behalf. The documents were submitted to the Department of Business Development on Aug 19.
Ms Paetongtarn gave her aide the authority to do this just one day after the Constitutional Court ruled to dismiss Mr Srettha from office, according to Mr Ruangkrai.