Action on new ministers unlikely

The Office of the Ombudsman is unlikely to take action against two newly appointed Cabinet members for alleged moral wrongdoing because the petition against them was filed before they assumed office, Ombudsman Siracha Charoenpanij said yesterday.

He said Prime Minister's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua were not Cabinet members when the petition was filed against them.

"The two persons were not actually public officials when they were accused of moral wrongdoing," he said.

However, Siracha said his office would continue its investigation to determine whether Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Cabinet secretary-general Ampon Kitti-ampon were aware of any issues that would have disqualified Nalinee and Natthawut before they were appointed to the Cabinet.