Published on July 29, 2005

The Senate has sought a Royal command to install Visut Montriwat as the new auditor-general, but His Majesty the King has yet to endorse the appointment, the chamber’s speaker said yesterday.

“This is entirely up to the King’s consideration. I have no comment,’’ Suchon Chaleekrua said.

Before the Senate finally approved Visut for the job, the screening and nomination process for the auditor-general’s had been ensnared in a long-running legal dispute. The former auditor-general, Jaruvan Maintaka, refused to step down and make way for Visut despite a ruling from the Constitution Court that her nomination had been improper.

Jaruvan argued that she had been legitimately appointed by Royal command in May 2001 and vowed to stay put until His Majesty instructed her removal.

Meanwhile, Suchon called on honest and bold people to apply for vacancies on the National Counter Corruption Commission. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday.

All nine seats on the NCCC have to be filled after the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions handed down two-year suspended jail terms to the previous members for exceeding their authority and awarding themselves pay rises.

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