Thai PM in court battle over cooking show
Thailand’s beleaguered prime minister defended himself today against accusations that he broke the law by hosting a television cooking show while in office, an offence that could force him to resign.
The country’s constitutional court is scheduled to give its verdict tomorrow on whether prime minister Samak Sundaravej’s appearance on the Tasting and Complaining show violated a constitutional ban on Cabinet ministers working for private companies.
Mr Samak’s trial comes as anti-government protesters continue their nearly two-week-old occupation of the grounds of his office complex, demanding his resignation. He also faces a defamation suit and three corruption charges. But the cooking show case is the most immediate threat to his power.
If Samak is ordered to resign by the court, it would indirectly end the political deadlock caused by the anti-government protesters, who have virtually paralysed the government.
“By making a quick decision, the court will help a lot in resolving the political crisis,” said Suwat Apaipakdi, a lawyer for a group of senators who filed the petition against Samak in the case.
“If the court rules that prime minister Samak is disqualified from holding office, then the political crisis will automatically cease,” he said.
Before taking office seven months ago, Mr Samak hosted the popular TV show, a mix of traditional Thai cooking and rants on the subjects of Mr Samak’s choice.
Mr Samak made a few appearances on the show after becoming prime minister – the last time in May – prompting the petition by the senators.
Mr Samak, who testified for about an hour today, told the court that he only received an honorarium from the television company.
“I was hired to appear on the programme and got paid from time to time. I was not an employee of the company so I did not violate the law,” Mr Samak said.
He said the television company paid for his transportation.
“I presented the cooking show and got paid for my acting,” Mr Samak said.
He was earlier indicted by the National Counter Corruption Commission, an autonomous body, which then forwarded the case to the Constitutional Court.
Sakchai Khaewwaneesakul, the managing director of the company that produced the cooking show, testified in support of Mr Samak, saying he paid the prime minister £280 per show for incidental expenses.
“The presenters of our shows are not our employees, but we pay them honorariums,” he told the court.
The case is the latest embarrassment for Samak, who has not been able to enter his office, the Government House, since protesters stormed the compound on August 26. Despite facing emergency rule in Bangkok, the protesters have refused to leave.
