EC appoints panel to look into conduct of Prasobsuk

       The Election Commission has appointed a committee to investigate the senate speaker over claims he failed to seek a ruling from the Constitution Court on the qualifications of 16 senators accused of violating the shareholding law.
       The law required Prasobsuk Boondej to seek the court ruling on the senators'qualifications within 30 days.
       EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn yesterday said Mr Prasobsuk did not seek the ruling.
       Mr Suthiphon said the EC had asked its litigation team to look into Mr Prasobsuk's actions after it received a complaint from appointed senator Ruangkrai Le-
       kijwattana.
       Mr Ruangkrai asked the EC to probe whether Mr Prasobsuk had violated Article 266(1)of the charter.
       Mr Prasobsuk's alleged failure meant the EC was unable to vet the Suthiphon: Litigation qualifications of team to probe actions the senators.
       The EC also set up a subcommittee yesterday to look into the facts of the case and their legal implications. The subcommittee was expected to report back to the commission within 30 days.
       The Constitution Court would eventually decide if the Senate speaker should be removed from office if it was found he violated the constitution.
       Mr Prasobsuk yesterday said he had not neglected his duties nor helped his fellow senators evade justice.
       He said the EC had no right to investigate his conduct, but he would cooperate with it if it invited him to appear before it to answer questions.
       Mr Suthiphon said the EC had sent its decision to ban 13 MPs who allegedly hold stakes in state concessionaires to House Speaker Chai Chidchob.
       Mr Chai would pass the decision to the Constitution Court which had the final authority to rule if the MPs should be stripped of their seats.