I refused improper orders, Sukit claims

Sukit Charoenratanakul, who is now an inspector, claimed he was shifted from the position of director general at the Local Administration Department because he refused to violate budgetary regulations.

"I lost my job after turning down an unethical order for me to break the law," he said.

Sukit said was warned to allocate state funds under his jurisdiction to satisfy political expediency or risk losing his job.

He said his department had jurisdiction over Bt12 billion in funds to support local governments and that he and several other officials were summoned almost daily to report on allocation of money.

He said he questioned the legality of his transfer as well as political interference to effect a lopsided allocation of state funds for political expediency.

The House panel is chaired by Pheu Thai MP Pracha Prasopdee from the opposition bench. The hearing took place one day ahead of the censure debate, in which Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul and his deputy Boonjong Wongtrairat will be targetted.

One of the censure charges they face is misconduct and interfering with civil servants' work. The two have also been accused of bullying their subordinates via unfair job transfers.