Disciplinary investigation into the conduct of Mr Supat Sa-nguandeekul, deputy director-general of Intellectual Property Department, will proceed even if the embattled senior official resigns from civil service.
Commerce permanent secretary-general Viboonlak Ruamrak said Tuesday that the disciplinary probe was ordered after the completion of a fact-finding investigation which found there was ground that Mr Supat had committed gross disciplinary violation.
Mr Supat was caught in CCTV of a hotel in Kyoto where he stayed stealing three wall paintings worth 15,000 yen. The Japanese prosecutor did not press any charges against him after he agreed to pay compensation to the hotel.
Ms Viboonlak said the disciplinary probe would be completed soon. She added the penalties for gross disciplinary violation dismissal with pension or dismissal without any pension.
She disclosed that Mr Supat had already tendered his resignation letter to his superior at the Department of Intellectual Property and to the commerce minister on Tuesday.
