DSI Intent on probing NBTC selection process

DSI Intent on probing NBTC selection process

Suranan Wongwitthayakamchon

Tharit Pengdit

The Department of Special Investigation stands firm in its intention to treat alleged irregularities in the selection of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission candidates as a special case, DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit said on Monday.

Mr Tharit said he would seek approval for the case from the Special Cases Committee even though the Administrative Court had rejected a petition by Suranan Wongwitthayakamchon, who failed to make the  candidate shortlist.

Mr Suranan alleged that there were irregularities in the selection process.

Mr Tharit said the DSI had nothing to do with the NBTC's selection. It was just looking into possible wrongdoings in the process with the intention of forwarding its findings to the appropriate agencies so they could take legal action against any violaters of the law.

He denied his department was being used as a political tool to derail the NBTC selection.

The DSI wanted to reach a conclusion on the irregularities allegation as soon as possible for the sake of the selection process, he said.

Mr Tharit said although the case filed by Mr Suranan was rejected today, the Administrative Court still has to  consider three other cases involving allegations of irregularities in the NBTC selection process.

In Mr Suranan's case, the petitioner only wanted his name to be put on the list of NBTC finalists, he said.

On Sunday, Mr Tharit said the DSI was looking into complaints and would report the results to the Senate, which has to vet and select the 11 NBTC members.

The complaints included allegations that some selection committee members and candidates they chose could have possible conflicts of interest. Moreover, some NBTC candidates were accused of being involved in drafting a law governing radio frequency allegations, the DSI chief said.
Mr Suranan's petition was filed against Jaturong Panyadilok, chairman of the selection committee, the entire selection committee, and the Senate secretary-general.

Mr Suranan came fifth in the economic expert category of candidates and failed to make the candidate shortlist. But when Atthachai Burakamkowit, a candidate who came fourth on the shortlist, was disqualified because he held a position on the MCOT Plc board, constituting a conflict of interest, Mr Suranan was not moved up to replace him.

The panel instead called for a new round of shortlist voting in which Mr Suranan was beaten by another candidate, Yuth Chaiprawit, who was seventh on the shortlist.

The court ruled that the closed meeting of the selection panel on April 25 properly complied with the Senate regulation governing selection of NBTC members and dismissed Mr Suranan's petition.

Mr Suranan said he would appeal the ruling.

The Senate is due to pick the 11 members of the NBTC from the shortlisted 44 finalists on Sept 5.

The deadline for the Senate to select the 11 NBTC members is Sept 11. If the Senate fails to meet the deadline then the authority to choose the members of the NBTC will shift to the cabinet.