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Urgent: Supreme Court accepts lottery case for trial
The Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders decided Monday to proceed with the trial in the lottery case against former members of the Thaksin Cabinet.
The court scheduled the first hearing on September 26.
The court's decision will cause three members of the Samak Cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, to be suspended from duty.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30079143
Court accepts to hear lottery case
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on Monday announced that it would accept to hear the two-and three-digit lottery case.
The lawsuit was filed by the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC) against the Thaksin Cabinet, including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and 47 former ministers, accusing them of malfeasance for issuing the July 8, 2003 cabinet resolution to implement the two-and three-digit lottery.
Among the accused are three current ministers: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas are planning to seek a Constitution Court ruling if they must suspend their duties since the court accepts to hear the case.
Critics believe the three have the motive to buy time for another one to two months as the Cabinet reshuffle is underway.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/28/politics/politics_30079138.php
Surapong to continue working
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said Monday that he would continue working as the finance minister despite the court's decision to accept a lawsuit against him.
He said the Council of State would be asked Tomorrow to rule if he could hang on to the position after the Supreme Court decides to proceed with the trial of the special lottery case.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30079162
Three Cabinet members should suspend their duties: Wicha
The anti-graft law is clear that the three Cabinet members involved in the lottery case are obliged to suspend their job, National Counter Corruption Commission member Wicha Mahakhun said on Tuesday.
"The political confusion persists because many politiicians do not abide by the judicial opinions. To end this, it is imperative to uphold the judiciary power," Wicha said.
Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas are among the 47 defendants in the case.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30079227
Legal advice on job status of three Cabinet members due in two weeks
The Cabinet on Tuesday asked the Council of State to advise on the job status of three Cabinet members involved in the lottery case, PM's Office Choosak Sirinin said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/29/politics/images/30079273-01.jpg
[Photo: The Nation - Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong]
The government wanted to clarify two legal issues - whether ministers and civil servants involved have to face a blanket suspension from duties upon the launch of the judicial review and whether the ministers accused but not directly involved should face suspension.
Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemas have been named defendants in the case.
Council of State secretary general Khun Pornthip Jala said the legal advice should complete in two weeks. At this juncture, Surapong should delegate his supervision of the Government Lottery Office to one of his two deputies, she said.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/29/politics/politics_30079273.php
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