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 Bangkok (The Nation/Thailand/ANN) - Thailand's Senate on Friday elected a
newly-appointed senator Teeradej Meepien as its new speaker, replacing Prasupsuk Boondet who completed his term of office.
Teeradej was one of 73 appointed senators assuming office before the last week's
Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday.
By the majority of 91-to-52, he defeated rival candidate Nikom Wairatpanit, who is presently the deputy speaker. Nikom is an elected senator from Chachoengsao.
A Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy graduate in 1962, Teeradej served in the Army, elevated to the rank of four-star general, and rose to become the permanent secretary for Defence from
1998 to his retirement in 2000.
During the period known as half-baked democracy, he briefly served in the upper chamer as an coup-appointed senator from 1979 to 1981.
After leaving the military service, he became ombudsman reporting to Parliament in 2003. He was elevated to the position of chief ombudsman in 2007 and served to the expiry of his term last year.
During his tenure as chief ombudsman, the National Anti Corruption Commission found cause to suspect wrongdoing in connection with his decision to award ombudsmen with a pay hike without the parliamentary
sanction. The case is under investigation
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