BANGKOK, Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Tuesday that he is not calling it quits under pressure in the face of allegations that his spouse holds more shares of real estate firms than legally allowed.

Don told reporters that he is not going to resign in the face of such allegations which, unless proven otherwise, would likely cost him his ministerial post in accordance with the constitution.

Don's spouse, Narirat, has been accused of holding more than 5 percent of shares of two unidentified real estate firms and the foreign minister had allegedlly failed to declare that category of wealth to the National Anti-Corruption Commission since he assumed the post in 2015.

Nonetheless, he argued that he had declared it at least on four occasions and that his spouse had already "cleared up" such stockholdings and currently holds less than 5 percent of the shares.

He said he will not resign under pressure unless the Constitutional Court might finally rule him guilty pertaining to his spouse's stockholdings.

"The answer is right on my face. I confirm to not (be working) under pressure. My wife has already cleared up the stockholdings which she has inherited as family shares since the last 37 years," said Don.

Without elaborating, Don said Narirat had made arrangements to comply with the law which prohibits cabinet members and spouses from holding more than 5 percent of private stocks.

He confirmed that he has been prepared to explain "the facts" about his spouse's stockholdings only if summoned by the Election Commission.

The polling agency, which had already looked into the wealths of the foreign minister and his spouse, is yet to forward the case to the Constitutional Court for final ruling in a 90-day time.-- NNN-XINHUA

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK