ID :
143354
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 13:41
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/143354
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EC clears Interior Minister Chavarat, family of charges
BANGKOK, Sept 23 - Thailand's Election Commission (EC) on Thursday dropped charges against Interior Minister Chavarat Charnveerakul and his family for illegally holding shares in Sino-Thai Pcl, one of the country's leading engineering and construction companies.
EC Secretary-General Suthipol Thaweechaikarn said the majority of EC members voted to drop a complaint lodged by opposition Puea Thai MP Sa-nguan Pongmanee who claimed that the Charnveerakul family's shareholding was in violation of the law.
The Thai Constitution prohibits a Cabinet member, his/her spouse and children from holding shares in media and state concessionary companies.
Mr Suthipol said Mr Chavarat has not abused his power for the benefit of his company as he had resigned from the company's executive position before taking his ministerial post.
The interior minister has assigned a mutual fund company to manage his Sino-Thai shares and the EC was informed, according to Mr Suthipol.
"Mr Chavarat has no authority to influence the management of the mutual fund management company and he resigned from the firm's board of executives on January 31, 2008," said the EC secretary-general. "His wife, Tassanee, resigned from the board on November 21, 2008."
Regarding shares held by Mr Chavarat's children, Mr Suthipol said the minister's son and daughters have already reached legal age and they are not banned from holding the shares.
Mr Suthipol added the EC probed possible irregularities in the Sino-Thai projects with the state and found that the company has followed the construction provision process.
"Its concessions have not been monopolised while Mr Chavarat has not exercised his ministership to intervene the bid," he said.
Mr Chavarat was a founder of the Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Co Ltd (STECON) which includes construction contracting, sales, maintenance and repair of industrial machinery, and property development.
The company has had a number of construction contracts with the state, such as the Airport Link project, construction of a government centre in the Chaeng Wattana area and the Purple Line Bang Yai-Ratburana underground train. (MCOT online news)
EC Secretary-General Suthipol Thaweechaikarn said the majority of EC members voted to drop a complaint lodged by opposition Puea Thai MP Sa-nguan Pongmanee who claimed that the Charnveerakul family's shareholding was in violation of the law.
The Thai Constitution prohibits a Cabinet member, his/her spouse and children from holding shares in media and state concessionary companies.
Mr Suthipol said Mr Chavarat has not abused his power for the benefit of his company as he had resigned from the company's executive position before taking his ministerial post.
The interior minister has assigned a mutual fund company to manage his Sino-Thai shares and the EC was informed, according to Mr Suthipol.
"Mr Chavarat has no authority to influence the management of the mutual fund management company and he resigned from the firm's board of executives on January 31, 2008," said the EC secretary-general. "His wife, Tassanee, resigned from the board on November 21, 2008."
Regarding shares held by Mr Chavarat's children, Mr Suthipol said the minister's son and daughters have already reached legal age and they are not banned from holding the shares.
Mr Suthipol added the EC probed possible irregularities in the Sino-Thai projects with the state and found that the company has followed the construction provision process.
"Its concessions have not been monopolised while Mr Chavarat has not exercised his ministership to intervene the bid," he said.
Mr Chavarat was a founder of the Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Co Ltd (STECON) which includes construction contracting, sales, maintenance and repair of industrial machinery, and property development.
The company has had a number of construction contracts with the state, such as the Airport Link project, construction of a government centre in the Chaeng Wattana area and the Purple Line Bang Yai-Ratburana underground train. (MCOT online news)
