By Thai Newsroom Reporters
KANOKWAN WILAWAN is not yet resigning as deputy education minister despite being officially accused of standing behind an illegal encroachment upon a major national park.
Kanokwan quoted Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul who concurrently acts as top leader of Bhumjaithai Party to which the woman politician belongs as saying she need not resign unless the misconduct case filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against her father, Suntorn Wilawan, herself and four other persons is formally accepted by court.
Through the Office of Attorney-General, the NACC will submit the case to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct since the anti-graft agency has already found the deputy education minister guilty of unduly endorsing the encroachment onto some lush forest area in Noen Hom subdistrict of the capital district of Prachinburi which reportedly overlaps the premises of Khao Yai national park.
Though Kanokwan told reporters the case has already been put into judicial process which the woman politician said she is obliged to follow, she has yet refused to call it quits from the cabinet.
Kanokwan’s father has apparently avoided an arrest warrant issued for him for similar criminal charges involving the alleged infringement upon Khao Yai national park. Suntorn is a former MP of his home province of Prachinburi and currently performs as president of the provincial administrative organisation.
The Wilawan family has been allegedly involved in the wrongful issuance of land title deeds in Noen Hom area by some officials of the Land Department which is officially viewed as part of the national park.
Meanwhile, Anutin categorically dismissed speculation that Bhujaithai MP Boonlue Prasertsopa will be named deputy education minister in place of Kanokwan who is more or less expected to lose her cabinet seat in the face of the forest encroachment scandal.
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Top: Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Wilawan together with her dad Santorn Wilawan. Photo: Thansettakij
Front Page: Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Wilawan. Photo: Thansettakij
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