The opposition Pheu Thai Party yesterday demanded the National Anti-Corruption Commission take action against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for accepting a gold ring worth over Bt3,000 in violation of Article 103 of the NACC Act.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the NACC had yet to decide on whether to indict Abhisit for accepting two pieces of ivory worth over Bt200,000 from Transport Minister Sophon Saram while he was visiting locals in Buri Ram.
Abhisit on Saturday accepted a gold ring worth more than Bt3,000 from a supporter in Ubon Ratchathani during his visit to the northeastern province. "Abhisit accepted the ring which is worth about Bt4,000 [according to current gold price] in defiance of the NACC's authority. If the NACC ignores Abhisit's action, all members should call on it to quit,'' he said.
Prompong dismissed PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey's claim the ring was bought many years ago for a few hundred baht, saying the valuation must be the current price.
Abhisit said he was ready to return the ring if it was found to be worth over Bt3,000. He said after accepting the ring, he instructed officials to check if its value was more than the legal limit. If it was more than Bt3,000, he would be willing to return it.
NACC commissioner Wicha Mahakhun said if politicians had any doubt that the gifts they received were beyond legal limits, they could ask the PM's Office Minister to check their value. He pointed out the case where the PM accepted a couple of ivory pieces from Sophon and after finding out later the gifts were over the legal value limit, notified the House speaker and returned them.
"If the gifts are over Bt3,000 and they are returned, the matter is ended. This is not about corruption or fraud,'' he said.
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