Thai Deputy Prime Minister Resigns Over Bribery Scandal

Ruling party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit resigned from the cabinet this afternoon, due to a scandal involving bribery allegations and concerns about political consequences for the government.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit has just decided to resign from October 1, 2012.

“I have decided to resign as deputy prime minister and interior minister,” AFP quoted Yongyuth as saying this afternoon. He added that the decision will take effect from October 1. However, Mr. Yongyuth will continue to serve as president of the Pheu Thai Party and as a member of the party’s parliament.

Mr Yongyuth, 70, was convicted on June 13 by Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of illegally approving the sale of royal land to a golf course developer in 2000, when he was deputy permanent secretary of the interior ministry. However, he has denied the allegation and is still pursuing the case.

The Puea Thai Party said Mr. Yongyuth decided to resign to reduce tension in the government, as factional divisions continue to cause instability in Thai politics.

According to the Bangkok Post, Mr. Yongyuth is currently acting prime minister while Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is in the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Vietnamnet-M