“Board chairman Norachai Sripimol did not meet with Asa Sarasin, the King’s principal private secretary, as alleged in news reports quoting Thai Rak Thai MP Pramuan Ruchanaseree,” said board member Kriengsak Watanawarangkoon.

The media reported that Pramuan learned that Asa had told Norachai to pay all of the salary withheld from Jaruvan following last year’s court ruling against her nomination process.

Kriengsak quoted Norachai as saying that there had been attempts to politicise the issue of Jaruvan’s job status and the senatorial recommendation for Royal endorsement of Visut Montriwat for the position of auditor-general.

Kriengsak said the board was of the opinion that Jaruvan had lost her job when the Senate voted in May to recommend Visut’s appointment.

He said the board was responsible for nominating Visut for the job but had no say in the matter if Royal endorsement for Visut were not forthcoming.

The Senate is solely responsible for finding a solution should it fail to push through the appointment.

Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua refused to comment on the matter, beyond saying that he had submitted the appointment on June 10 for Royal endorsement.

Reporters on the Parliament beat discovered leaflets supporting Suchon and attacking Jaruvan. The unsigned flyers had been left inside a restroom.

In a related development, the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) sent an urgent letter to Jaruvan, asking her to collect her belongings. The letter was registered on Monday.

The letter insisted that in accordance with a decision handed down by the Board of Audit Commissioners last September 20, she must hand over any state property in her possession to the OAG, and she was not allowed to use the OAG Building. However, she has rarely entered her office.