Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob was suspended from his duties today by a court due to his involvement with a construction company.
The Constitutional Court on Friday morning ordered his suspension pending its ruling on a case of alleged corruption involving his family’s interest in a construction firm. The order was effective immediately.
Saksayam, who belongs to a powerful political dynasty, is accused of having a stake in the Buri Charoen Construction Co. Ltd., which his family owns about 80% of the shares.
The 60-year-old cabinet member’s brother Newin Chidchob was the founder and former leader of ruling coalition Bhumjaithai Party.
During a no-confidence debate in July, Saksayam was attacked in parliament by Pakornwut Udompipatskul, an opposition MP with the Move Forward Party. Pakornwut accused Saksayam of concealing his assets and using a nominee to hide ownership of the company to win ministry construction projects awarded by the very ministry he led.
According to Pakornwut, Saksayam transferred all his shares to a nominee weeks before being named transport minister.
Responding to the accusation, Saksayam denied that he owned the construction firm, which won THB1 billion (US$28.7 million) worth of projects from his ministry. He said that the firm was owned by his friend, Supawat Kasemsut.
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