Former Thai MP faces charges over film fiasco

Former Thai Civilised Party MP Mongkolkit Suksintharanon faces charges for allegedly breaching the code of ethics by skipping a crucial House meeting to catch a film.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) voted 6:1 to charge Mongkolkit, now a Democrat Party member, for missing a House session on December 15, 2021. The NACC plans to take the case to the Supreme Court and seek retroactive penalties. If convicted, Mongkolkit could face a lifetime ban from politics.

Mongkolkit posted on Facebook, on December 15, 2021, explaining that he left the House meeting around 2pm to take a group of vocational students to see 4Kings, a film about conflicts among rival vocational schools. The screening was set for 5.40pm, while the House adjourned at 4.30pm.

Mongkolkit claimed he followed protocol by submitting a formal letter of absence to prevent his political adversaries, notably Srisuwan Janya, from filing complaints. Despite this, a complaint was lodged with the NACC, accusing him of violating MP ethical standards. The NACC decided to formally charge him yesterday.

Reacting to the NACC’s decision, Mongkolkit declared in a Facebook Live session that he is ready to defend himself in court. He also revealed plans to file a petition with the Central Administrative Court against the NACC, alleging procedural failures in his case. He asserted that the NACC subcommittee did not formally notify him of the charges or give him a chance to defend himself, thus calling for the entire process to be annulled, reported The Nation.

In related news, the success of the film The Undertaker has caught the attention of many, with the film grossing over 700 million baht. This spin-off from the Thai Ban universe has generated significant buzz, particularly as fans eagerly await the potential sequel.

In other news, in a historic milestone for Thai cinema, Uranus2324, the nation’s first space science fiction film, premiered on July 4. This highly anticipated film has already garnered significant attention, being one of only four films to receive funding under Thailand’s Soft Power initiative and securing global distribution deals.