The Association to Protect the Thai Constitution (APTC) released a statement calling on the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) and Commerce Ministry to take action against Suphat Saquandeekul, deputy director-general of Intellectual Property Department. It said Suphat, 60, had committed a “shameful” crime and humiliated the reputation of the Thai government around the world.

Srisuwan Janya, APTC secretary-general, said in the statement that although a fine had been paid for the offence that Suphat committed on an official visit to Kyoto, the incident had damaged the reputation of Thai people and the government. The paintings were valued at 15,000 yen (Bt4,684).

Suphat, who was arrested last week for committing the theft, was freed on payment of a fine.

“Suphat’s behaviour made it clear that he intended to steal the paintings from the hotel, and we feel it very shameful that a high-ranking Thai civil servant should commit such a crime. It also reflects that the reputation of Thai civil servants has reached an all-time low,” Srisuwan said. “Therefore, the prime minister, as head of the OCSC, must punish him, as his behaviour can count as being morally defective and shameful to society. The Commerce Minister must fire him because he violated the rules of the Civil Service Act.”

Srisuwan said the authorities should also cancel Suphat’s pension and welfare to set a standard for civil servants who destroy the country’s reputation, and thus warn others not to do similar things.

He warned the authorities that if the OCSC and Commerce Ministry did not take serious action against the wrongdoer, or it tried to help him, the APTC would consider such action as nonfeasance and file a lawsuit against the relevant agencies.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Friday that the Commerce Ministry would set up a committee to investigate the case. He said that, according to OCSC standards, theft was not a serious crime, but if the action affected the country’s reputation, it could be considered so.

However, Wissanu said it was still too early to judge and Suphat would have to be treated fairly.