Immunity For Kanchit Deemed Inappropriate
 Legal immunity for Democrat MP Kanchit Tabsuwan, currently given homicide charges, has been viewed by an ex-deputy police chief as inappropriate and unconstitutional.
Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanond said on Friday the House of Representatives should deny immunity for Kanchit whom the police need for further questioning into the murder charges which held him as the person who pulled the trigger to kill Udorn Kraiwatnussorn, provincial head of Samut Sakorn, in the outlying province last month.
Though the MP of Samut Sakorn already has been given the immunity during a parliamentary session in accordance with the constitution, such privileges should be temporarily waived up to streamline the police investigation into the sensational homicide case, said Pol Gen Jongrak, who currently chairs a Senate subcommittee on police affairs.
''Given the fact this is an evident case of homicide, the constitution does not mean to provide immunity to the accused in the first place. Immunity is only meant for those who might possibly be persecuted by a government agency otherwise they would fail to attend a parliamentary session.
''But this is a personal and criminal case which by no means involved any government unit. How could (the legislative branch) possibly respond to the public about equality in the legal rights of people under democratic rule?,''
Meanwhile, police chief Pol Gen Preowpand Damapong commented the police had obtained ''scientific'' evidence which was considered ''more useful'' to the probe into the case though the handgun used in the murder of the provincial head has not been secured as yet.
The police chief did not elaborate on the police probe while Kanchit showed up at parliament to attend House meetings since the crime was committed a few weeks earlier.
The 41-year-old MP, who has denied all homicide charges, allegedly pulled over his pickup truck beside that of the 49-year-old Udorn's outside the toilet at a gas station in downtown Samut Sakorn, got off and pumped eight rounds of his handgun at point-blank range at the head and body of his victim, returned to his vehicle, sat behind the wheel and drove off.
Kanchit is son of former cabinet member Anek Tabsuwan and Udorn was son of former cabinet member Monton Kraiwatnussorn. Both families remain politically influential throughout the province, southwest of Bangkok.
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