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Chonsawat's father is Puea Pandin Party chairman Vatana Asavahame, who has fled to Cambodia following a verdict against him in a corruption case. He reportedly stays in a casino hotel in Poi Pet.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders sentenced Vatana to 10 years in jail on Monday for corruption related to the Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant.

Chonsawat, 39, is currently facing trial on charges of assaulting a policeman. He was charged after allegedly refusing to stop for an alcohol test and assaulting the officer who tried to get him to stop earlier this year.

The court has scheduled the first hearing in the case for September 17.

Earlier, in September 2006, the Samut Prakan provincial court sentenced Chonsawat to four years in jail for electoral fraud during Samut Prakan's mayoral election, with his voting rights revoked for 10 years. Up to 1,000 false ballot cards were found in the 1999 election. The case is now with the Appeals Court.

Regarding a personal matter, Chonsawat has appeared in news items speculating about his relationship with model Yossawadee Hassadeevichit.

In fact, this is the second time that Chonsawat has been offered such a position in Samak Sundaravej's Cabinet. In February, the Cabinet approved his appointment as a deputy secretary to Deputy Interior Minister Sithichai Kowsurat.

Many ministers vouched for his qualifications and said he deserved a chance.

Chonsawat worked in the position for only one day before resigning. He claimed he cared about how matters appeared to the public and said he wanted the justice system to be fair while he was facing some cases.

Again this time, Information and Communications Technology Minister Mun Patanotai, Puea Pandin Party's deputy leader and the person who put Chonsawat's forward for the position, defended Chonsawat's tainted record, saying he has learnt from "past mistakes", as well as from his stint as mayor of Samut Prakan.

As a person close to the Asavahame family, Mun said Chonsawat is obedient to his seniors.

He gave Samak credit for respecting the Puea Pandin Party well in giving Chonsawat the appointment

The ICT minister said Chonsawat's appointment was in the spotlight because his wife Nantida is a famous singer.

However, Mun accepted that Vatana decided to flee from the charges facing against him, and that the case against Chonsawat has yet to be cleared. Given his reasons for resigning last time, the question now is whether it would be good for Thailand if he took the same position this time.