PM denies he violates charter by hosting cooking shows

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Monday denied charges that he had violated the constitution by hosting a television cooking show while holding the premiership.

Samak claimed the programme had been done on a freelance basis.

In May, a group of Thai senators charged Samak with violating the constitution by continuing his job as a TV presenter on his personal cooking show, Chim pai, bon pai (Tasting and Complaining), after he had been appointed prime minister on February 6.

Samak appeared before the Constitution Court Monday to refute the charges. The court will announce its ruling on Tuesday. 

Samak told the court, "I consulted with legal counsel after I became prime minister, and they all agreed it was not a breach of the constitution if I was not a regular employee of a company," Samak told the court.

He said he had only hosted the show a few times after becoming prime minister and only on a freelance basis. He claimed he had  passed the money he earned on to his driver.

"I did it because I liked doing it," Samak said. "I was the first TV presenter to do my cooking right in the market, and it was delicious too."

Article 267 of the constitution prohibits the prime minister from holding any position in a partnership, a company or an organisation carrying out business with a view to sharing profit or income, or from being an employee of a person or company.

If the Constitution Court rules against Samak, his premiership will be ended so as the cabinet. However the ruling has no punishment, meaning he could be voted in the parliament to become prime minister again.