Panita petitions PM against transfer | Bangkok Post: news
Panita petitions PM against transfer Panita Kambhu na Ayutthaya, former permanent secretary of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, on Thursday submitted a letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asking for a review of her transfer to the Prime Minister's Office.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Prompat's proposal to transfer Mrs Panita to be a prime minister's adviser at the Prime Minister's Office.
She is replaced by Wichien Chawalit, also a PM's adviser.
A disciplinary committee chaired by PM's Office permanent secretary Thongthong Chandrangsu has been set up to investigate her alleged mis-spending of government funds while on an overseas trip.
Mrs Panita said before submitting the petition that the transfer order was unfair and Mr Santi had defamed her and her family in his press interviews.
She said she held no grudge against Mr Santi, adding that her transfer might be the work of an adviser to the minister.
Mrs Panita said she would ask the prime minister to review the transfer and investigation orders.
If the prime minister did not respond, she would petition the merit system protection committee of the Office of the Civil Service Commission.
Mr Santi said earlier that he sought Mrs Panita's transfer because the Office of the Auditor-General sent a letter to him on Aug 25 last year instructing him to recall a sum of money which had allegedly been mis-spent during an overseas trip by Mrs Panita while she was director-general of the Social Development and Welfare Department.
The office also suggested that disciplinary action be taken against her, he said.