The government should arm the National Anti-Corruption Commission with more powers to speed up the ongoing probe into the Rolls-Royce bribery scandal rather than let agencies handle the case separately, a graftbuster says.
The proposal was made by Banyong Pongpanich, executive of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, during its seminar on the issue yesterday.
It comes as agencies conduct their own investigations following the British engineering manufacturer's recent admission of bribing authorities during past trade deals with many countries including Thailand.
The alleged involvement of Thai Airways International (THAI) and PTT Plc, the country's oil and gas conglomerate, in the scandal has prompted them to form their probe teams.
The move was simultaneously carried out by the Office of the Auditor-General, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). Mr Banyong said accused companies should be required only to supply data related to the case to the NACC which should act as the lead investigator to act against corrupt authorities and unmask what he called powerful "devils" outside the companies who may mastermind the corruption.
To deal with the Rolls-Royce case more effectively, Mr Banyong suggested, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should exercise his power under Section 44 of the interim charter to authorise the NACC to look into alleged wrongdoings both in state and private organisations.
The national graftbuster should also be empowered to directly contact certain foreign agencies for obtaining crucial information without the need to do the job via the Office of the Attorney-General and Foreign Affairs Ministry, he added.
Secretary-general Sansern Poljeak said the imposition of Section 44 to bypass the process can speed up its investigative work, but careful consideration is needed to avoid legal complications as any change to the process may involve other laws.
He said today the NACC will have a teleconference with the British Serious Fraud Office, which has handled the Rolls-Royce case, to ask for more clues.
These items of information will be discussed among NACC members to prepare for its investigation.
Mr Sansern believes it is "not difficult" to identify who was involved in the trade deals with Rolls-Royce in different periods as the NACC can check information compiled by THAI and PTT.
However, the NACC needs to find out who masterminded the secret payments in Rolls-Royce's deals and how and when the money was paid. This is information the NACC must obtain from foreign agencies, Mr Sansern said.
According to the British court's statement of facts, Rolls-Royce was involved in alleged bribes worth up to US$36.38 million (1.28 billion baht) during trade deals between 1991 and 2005.
The Thai national flag carrier was dragged into hot water because it bought aircraft engines from Rolls-Royce and PTT Exploration and Production Plc.
It was accused of alleged irregularities after it bought power generators and equipment from the British company between 2000 and 2013.
PACC secretary-general Prayong Preeyajit said yesterday his agency is working with Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy which will help look into the indictment statement bought to the British court in order to clearly understand the chronology of events.
In the statement, there are at least three to four key players including Rolls-Royce, its headquarters in the US and some American companies.