The two ex-commissioners, Wassana Permlarp and Parinya Nakchatree, both of whom are 76, were sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted of violating the election law in connection with the national election in April 2006.

They have already served one year, six months and 13 days in jail and were eligible to receive the suspension. However, the two must comply with conditions set by the Probation Office for the rest of their terms, or five months and 22 days.

The decision was made yesterday at a committee meeting chaired by ministry deputy permanent secretary Wittaya Suriyawong, Corrections Department chief Pol Colonel Narat Sawettanan said.

Narat said 4,506 convicts had requested suspensions to their jail terms this year but only 58 per cent, or 2,636, were approved.

A suspension entails a release from prison under certain conditions, giving convicts who demonstrate good behaviour the opportunity to return to society before their terms end, he said.

The premier appealed for legal procedures to be followed in the case, and urged the public not to be pessimistic about the matter.

He said he was not giving any moral support to the deputy PM as he was strong enough to handle the issue.

Some of the allegations against Prawit have targeted their relationship and some people would like to see the two of them separated, the premier added.

“But I’m strong, and you know that if I had no-one by my side, I would become more aggressive and exercise my full power,” Prayut insisted.

Last week, the National Anti-Corruption Commission gave Prawit 30 days to justify his possession of two extravagant items – a super-luxury watch and a large diamond ring – which he had worn during a group photograph with the recently reshuffled Cabinet the preceding Monday.

The photo – which showed the 72-year-old retired general shielding his eyes with his hand, displaying what appeared to be extremely expensive accessories – quickly caught the public’s attention and raised questions as to how a lifelong military officer could afford such luxuries.

The government, he added, had been trying to allocate more budget to the South, in contrast to past rounds when it tended to receive the budget later than other regions.

However, it is the government’s responsibility to look after everyone, and not just one part of the country, the premier stressed.

Pornpetch was referring to a proposal by the founder of the Peoples’ Reform Party, Paiboon Nititawan, who is seeking legal amendments, especially on the matter of party registration.

Paiboon has said that the system, which currently allows parties to recheck their membership rolls and collect fees from those people, disadvantaged new parties that had to seek new members.

He said the process should be completely reset to allow equal treatment for all.

Pornpetch said amendment to the law was possible but this would affect the timeframes given to parties to complete registration and other tasks required under the law’s provisional chapter. Moreover, it could also affect the road map to the election, Pornpetch said.

Abhisit said the agency must consider the case based on the facts.

The NACC head, Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, who is said to be close to Prawit, must also show his integrity and impartiality in leading the probe, Abhisit said.

Watcharapol once served as a deputy secretary-general to the prime minister attached to Prawit.

Last week, the NACC gave Prawit 30 days to justify his possession of the extravagant items, which he wore during a group photograph with the recently reshuffled Cabinet on Monday last week. The photo – which showed the 72-year-old retired general shielding his eyes with his hand, displaying what appeared to be extremely expensive accessories – quickly caught the public’s attention and raised questions as to how a lifelong military officer could afford such luxuries.

Prawit, meanwhile, remained silent on the issue, refusing to respond to reporters’ inquiries before attending the Cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday morning.

“The most significant thing is that the EU has relaxed its stance [towards Thailand]. Political development … now moves one step forward,” Don said on Tuesday before attending the weekly Cabinet meeting at Government House.

The EU on Monday agreed to resume political contact “at all levels” with Thailand, more than three years after suspending ties in protest at the military coup in Bangkok.

Don said that from now, all official political contact, as well as exchange visits between leaders or officials of European countries and Thailand, can go ahead.

The relaxation will also have a good psychological affect on investors, he said.

He added that talks between the EU and Thailand on business cooperation, such as a free trade agreement, could proceed when the time is right.

Worawit urged people to let the NACC do its job before jumping to any conclusions.

“Please let us follow our normal work procedures. Don’t speculate too much about it,” said Worawit.

Last week, the NACC gave Prawit 30 days to justify his possession of the two extravagant items, which he wore during a group photograph with the recently reshuffled Cabinet last Monday.

The photo – which showed the 72-year-old retired general shielding his eyes with his hand, displaying what appeared to be extremely expensive accessories – quickly caught the public’s attention and raised questions as to how a lifelong military officer could afford such luxuries.

Prawit is expected to submit an explanatory letter to the NACC today, according to a source close to him. The letter was at the Defence Ministry office and would be forwarded to the NACC after the long weekend, the source said.

An unconfirmed local report also claimed that Prawit’s ring was inherited from his mother, while what looked like a multi-million-baht Richard Mille watch was borrowed from Prawit’s businessman friend.

The source close to Prawit refused to confirm those claims, adding that the junta’s second-in-command would explain the matter only to the NACC.

The NACC is presided over by Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, who used to serve as a deputy secretary-general to the prime minister attached to Prawit. This has raised questions about whether the probe will be impartial.

Prawit’s “unusual wealth” was also an issue in 2014 when he entered the Cabinet, after he failed to declare any assets worth more than Bt200,000 to the NACC.

The bloc said developments in Thailand this year, including the adoption of a new constitution and a pledge by junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha to hold elections in November 2018, meant it was “appropriate” to resume ties.

But the European Union repeated its call for the restoration of full democracy and said it was still concerned about harassment of human rights activists and the curtailing of free speech in Thailand.

A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels said they considered it was “appropriate to pursue a gradual political re-engagement with Thailand”.

The EU “has decided therefore to resume political contact at all levels with Thailand in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue”, the ministers said in a text approved at the meeting.

EU ministers halted all official visits to Thailand and suspended the signing of a partnership and cooperation accord with Bangkok in June 2014 after the army ousted the elected government.

But Prayut’s election promise and other measures such as the end of prosecuting civilians in military courts for certain offences have persuaded the EU to re-engage.

The bloc said it would look at possibly resuming talks on a free trade agreement with Thailand — as well as the partnership and cooperation accord — “with a democratically elected civilian government under the new constitution”.

But even when Thailand holds elections, they will not restore the same level of democracy the country had before the coup — a new junta-drafted charter curbs the power of elected politicians and calls for a fully appointed upper house, with several spots reserved for military leaders.

The military has further enshrined its role by declaring that any future administration must adhere to its “legally binding 20-year-plan” for the country.//AFP

Lieutenant Sunisa Divakorndamrong, party’s one-time deputy spokesperson, said on Sunday that she would go to the Police Technology Crime Suppression Division with her lawyer and some foreign diplomatic observers.

The NCPO last week filed six charges against Sunisa for allegedly committing sedition and violating the Computer Crime bill by uploading false information to her Facebook page.

Sunisa had criticised many of Prayut’s actions. This included his handling of the suspicious death of a cadet and also the different way he treated Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai when compared with Southern people who questioned the junta government’s policy.

NCPO spokesperson Maj Gen Piyapong Klinpan said the charges had been paid fairly to all sides. “We filed them through the normal legal procedure and didn’t abuse anyone,” he said

“The NCPO never obstructs any expression of opinions but the speakers have to be responsible for their actions. If they break laws, actions need to be taken.”

Sunisa has been keen an outspoken critic of Prayut and many of her comments are seen as being full of emotion and sarcasm.

“My criticism is pure in its intention and I follow my constitutional rights,” Sunisa said “I don’t aim to attack or smear the government but Gen Prayut, as a public figure, can be subject to criticism in the best interests of the people.”