Writer: BangkokPost.com

Published: 6/08/2009 at 06:11 PM

The Election Commission is expected to make a ruling on Aug 11 whether shareholdings by 44 MPs are in breach of the constitution, commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham on Thursday.

The constitution prohibits MPs and senators from holding shares in companies which are linked to state concessions and media business.

Mrs Sodsri said a subcommittee investigating shareholdings of the 44 MPs is scheduled to submit its report to the EC tomorrow. The EC is expected to make a ruling on Tuesday, Aug 11, she said.

The subcommittee was supposed to hand its report to the EC on July 23, but given another 15 days to complete its investigation since it needed more time to decide which shares are linked to state concessions, she said.

Of the 44 MPs, 23 belong to Puea Thai, eight to Puea Pandin, three to Chart Thai Pattana, three to Bhumjaithai, three to Pracharaj, two to Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, one to Social Action, and one to Democrat parties.

Six of them are holding ministerial posts in the current cabinet. They are Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul, Labour Minister Paithoon Kaewthong, Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat, Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nop-amornbodi, and Deputy Transport Minister Kuakul Danchaiwichit.

If found guilty, they could lose their parliamentary seats. The EC had earlier found 16 senators and 13 Democrat MPs in breach of the constitution for holding forbidden shares. The Constitution Court is to make a final decision.