Thailand Investigates 44 Former Move Forward Party Members

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Thai anti-corruption agency is investigating 44 members of the disbanded Move Forward party. This investigation follows complaints asking them to be banned from politics for life because it supports laws aimed at changing laws that oppose insulting the kingdom.

This happened less than a month after the court ordered the disbandment of Move Forward.

Among the 44 people being investigated are 25 current members of parliament from the People's Party, the latest incarnation of Move Forward and the largest party in parliament.

The law on insulting the king in Thailand, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, is among the strictest in the world and carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for any insults deemed committed against the royal family.

Critics say the law has been misused for political purposes to silence the opposition.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission, which has broad powers that go beyond corruption, said no demands have yet been filed and not all of the 44 people will be summoned.

"We have started calling relevant individuals to hear the facts," deputy secretary general Sarodo Phuengrepan told Reuters on Friday, August 30.

"This step is to gather evidence, but no one has been charged yet," he added.

Under the provisions, if the panel finds sufficient evidence of unethical behavior, the panel will indict people, who can file a defense before a decision is taken on whether to prosecute them in court.

If the Supreme Court finds a violation, they can be banned from politics for life, the same fate experienced last year by a Move Forward politician who made social media posts deemed disrespectful of the monarchy.