Thai PM faces conflict-of-interest probe

Thailand’s Election Commission will open an investigation into whether new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat should resign for violating the constitution.

The commission’s probe comes less than month after a similar process ousted Mr Somchai’s predecessor, Samak Sundaravej.

Election Commission spokesman Ruangrote Jomsueb said today a subcommittee would be appointed to investigate whether Mr Somchai had violated the constitution by holding shares in Thailand’s CS LoxInfo PCL.

The company is an internet service provider that is a contract partner of the Communications Authority of Thailand.

The constitution bars Cabinet members and their families from holding shares in companies that do business with state enterprises.

Mr Samak was forced to resign when it emerged he had appeared on a TV cookery programme.