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Published on April 8, 2008

Pressure was mounting on Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap yesterday, with suspicions that his wife is exceeding the legal shareholding limit of 5 per cent.

The Democrat Party has threatened to dig into the matter to determine if the anti-graft law has been violated. Meanwhile, the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) is also likely to look into the matter.

Chaiya failed to report the financial statement for his wife Jurai when he filed a report on his assets and debts with the NCCC, a legal requirement for any Cabinet member.

He cited an honest mistake, saying that he did not intend to conceal his wife's financial assets.

Jurai reportedly has a 50 per-cent shareholding in a private company.

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said the party would investigate the allegation that Chaiya's wife exceeded the shareholding limit.

He said the party, the sole parliamentary opposition to the government, would try to determine whether Chaiya really committed an unintentional error, as he has claimed. Ong-art added that there was a legal deadline for Cabinet members to submit their financial reports.

By the deadline, ministers are required to submit all the required documents, he said.

Meanwhile, NCCC member Klanarong Chantik said the anti-graft agency might discuss the matter at its meeting today. He said Chaiya could argue that the NCCC manual does not clearly state that a Cabinet member's spouse is required to file his or her financial report, but he should also have consulted the Constitution.

Deputy government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said the ruling People Power Party's legal team would try to find a solution for Chaiya.

Nattawut said he did not think the PPP-led coalition would be affected by the legal trouble. He said Chaiya merely filed a delayed financial report for his wife and that he had no intention of violating the anti-graft law.

The Nation