Groups question Yingluck's conduct, demand investigation

Some 30 female members of the multicoloured-shirts lodged a petition with the Office of Ombudsman demanding that it investigate Prime Minister Yinglunk Shinawatra's conduct.

The group said it suspected impropriety because Yingluck had failed to dispel doubts about conflict of interest and extramarital affairs.

In a separate move, the Green Politics advocacy group is calling for a probe into the ethical conduct of Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong in connection with the PM's controversial meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel.

In a petition filed yesterday, the group urged the Office of Ombudsman to widen its inquiry on Yingluck to include Kittiratt.

Kittiratt had stepped forward in defence of the premier to say that he was present at the February 8 meeting, which was held with six or seven real-estate developers, including Srettha Thavisin.

The group said it suspected that there might be a conflict of interest since Kittiratt said the points discussed included interest rates, financial affairs, land valuation, fiscal policy as well as economic and political affairs.

"Kittiratt is in charge of the economy and he has suspiciously set aside business hours to meet privately with businessmen," the group said in its petition.

Ombudsman Siracha Charoenpanij acknowledged the petition and said his office would check to see if there were any grounds to launch an inquiry on Kittiratt.

This group has launched three petitions on ethical conduct over the past two months. In its first petition, it targeted Yingluck and Cabinet secretary-general Amphon Kittiamphon in relation to the appointment of PM's Office Minister Nalinee Taveesin and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua.

Nalinee's alleged ties with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has put her on a US Treasury blacklist, while Natthawut faces terrorism charges in connection with the 2010 political disturbances.

The second petition also targeted Yingluck in relation to the controversial February 8 meeting, while the third one focuses on Kittiratt.

The Office of Ombudsman has already launched inquiries into the first and second cases. It has given Yingluck 30 days to explain the private meeting and submit her rebuttals on the two ministerial appointments by next week.

Siracha said his office would release Yingluck's rebuttals once the review is completed.