The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Tuesday asked the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to help protect witnesses involved in the probe into former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's role in the rice-pledging scheme.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) set its sights on breaking the Yingluck government's rice-purchase programme even before the May 22 coup, and continues to press hard for prosecution of the ex-premier and some of her cabinet ministers. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak made the demand at a joint meeting between the NACC and the OAG Tuesday.
The committee, set up on Sept 4, was intended to work on the case amid uncertainty about whether to indict Ms Yingluck for her alleged failure to stop losses under the scheme. The attorney-general says work by the NACC on the case is not strong enough to support indictments.
Mr Sansern called on Attorney-General Trakul Winitnaiyapak, who led OAG representatives at the meeting, to defend plaintiffs, including the anti-graft commission itself, from counterclaims.
He said witnesses, including officials involved in the investigation, need to be protected because they often face parallel lawsuits filed by the defendant. Such lawsuits are aimed at deterring witnesses from testifying.
Mr Sansern said the NACC also wanted the attorney-general to help set the direction of investigation. He suggests the office help with probes rather than wait for NACC reports to be complete. That should help reduce the problem of incomplete reports or gaps in procedure, he said.
The NACC was ready to address the opening of Ms Yingluck's case before the National Legislative Assembly on Jan 9, he said.