Bangkok: Srisuwan has filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate Suriya over the transfer of the Director-General of the Royal Rainmaking Project. Srisuwan has requested an investigation into serious ethical misconduct by Suriya, questioning whether his transfer of the Director-General of the Royal Rainmaking Department was justified.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Srisuwan Janya, leader of the Patriotic Organization, submitted a petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) requesting an investigation and ruling on Mr. Suriya Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Agriculture, and others. This request pertains to their admission that their nephew interfered in the administration of the Royal Rainmaking Department, leading to a dispute.
The issue stems from the resignation of Mr. Rachen Silapraya, Director-General of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, on April 29, 2026. He cited his inability to comply with political policies due to Mr. Suriya proposing to the Cabinet to transfer him from his position to Inspector-General of the Ministry just five months before his retirement. The justification given was the need for a more suitable person due to the approaching retirement age.
However, Mr. Rachen gave an interview to the press regarding his transfer, stating that he received a phone call from an airline CEO requesting a meeting. On the day of the meeting, three people showed up, claiming they wanted to help with aircraft maintenance, but Mr. Rachen was not present due to a prior appointment. He was unsure if it was a scam and whether this led to his transfer. The Minister of Agriculture countered that the matter was unrelated, stating that the transfer was inevitable due to various factors.
Mr. Rachen further stated that he has kept all records, including video clips and phone calls, which showed five calls made on April 24, 1969. He mentioned that the normal aircraft maintenance budget is 300 million baht per year, but the repairs were not carried out due to the risk of accidents. He also confirmed that someone summoned him to a building in the Vibhavadi area to review the 2027 budget.
In the case where Mr. Rachen revealed he was called by the minister's nephew to discuss aircraft repairs and budget documents at the party headquarters on Vibhavadi Road, this action is likely to violate Article 144 of the Constitution, which prohibits MPs from interfering with the national budget, and may be a conflict of interest under Article 184 (2) in conjunction with Article 186. This constitutes a serious breach of ethics for which the Minister of Agriculture cannot deny responsibility.
Therefore, the Patriotic Organization has submitted a complaint, along with all evidence and interview clips, to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) requesting an investigation into whether the actions of the Minister of Agriculture and his associates constitute corruption in office. The complaint questions whether they intentionally performed their duties or exercised power contrary to the Constitution or laws, or seriously violated ethical standards.