20 OFFICIALS FACE CHARGES OVER PAY HIKE

       Two years after accepting a complaint from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Attorney General has finally decided to indict 13 former Constitution Court judges, four former election commissioners and three ex-ombudsmen on charges of malfeasance after they gave themselves a monthly allowance of Bt20,000.
       In 2007, NACC decided to seek indictments against top officials of independent agencies for violating Article 157 of the Criminal Law by giving themselves a pay raise. On Sunday, the attorney general announced that the indicted officials would be taken to Criminal Court.
       The former Constitution Court judges facing action are: Kramol Thongthammachart, Jira Bunpojanasunthorn, Jumpol Na Songkhla, Pan Chantrapan, Mongkol Saratan, Manit Withayatem, Sak Techacharn, Suchit Bunbongkarn, Suthee Sithisomboon, Pol General Suwan Suwanwecho, Suwit Theerapong, Saowanee Assawaroj and Ura Wang-omklang.
       The former election commissioners are: Prinya Nakchadtree, Virachai Naewboonnien, Vasana Puemlarp and Charupat Ruangsuwan. The ex-ombudsmen are: the former chairman of the Ombudsman's Office, General Theeradet Meepian; Pramot Chotimongkol; and Poonsup Piya-anant.
       In an interview with the Thai Post newspaper, former Constitution Court judge Manit said he had already received unofficial notice of the decision and it did not surprise him. He added that he and his colleagues were planning to fight the case, and even take it to the highest court if necessary.
       "I have long resigned myself to my fate - if I have to go to jail, I will accept it," Manit said.
       "We did not mean to commit an offence, and after so much furore was created over the matter, we decided to give all the money back to the sate. We did not do anything wrong even though we knew we had the authority to do so," he added.
       He said he and his colleagues would fight the case on grounds that they had not given themselves a raise like the former NACC members had, but that the allowances were meant for meetings - as in they would only pay themselves if they attended meetings.
       "One of the judges is 75 now, and if he has to fight three courts, he has said he 'will be dead by the time the court makes a final decision'," Manit said.
       Meanwhile, another ex-judge, Suchit, who is now president of the Political Development Council, maintained his innocence saying he had not committed any offences and would be happy to take the matter to court. He added that if the court accepted the case, he was not required by law to step down as president of the council. However, he said, if there were any new developments, he would make his own judgement.