Fresh 'corrupt' officials list heads to PM

Fresh 'corrupt' officials list heads to PM

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has become the point man on corruption - and he says he has a third list of bent officials to hand over to the Prime Minister, right. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has become the point man on corruption - and he says he has a third list of bent officials to hand over to the Prime Minister, right. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said Monday he will submit a third list of allegedly corrupt officials to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in the next two days.

Meanwhile, the new members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) members have vowed to tackle graft cases head-on and in a professional manner.

Gen Prayut will decide whether to suspend or transfer them, alongside 116 others named in previous lists and since suspended under Section 44 of the interim charter, pending corruption investigations. 

Mr Wissanu said most of the officials in the third list suspected of being involved in irregularities in various activities, including state  procurement and personnel recruitment, are local administrative officials.

While no one occupies a position as senior as ministerial permanent secretary, there are some high-ranking officers on the list.

For those who have resigned from the state service but find their names included on the lists, including the first two lists submitted to the prime minister, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will investigate them.

The third batch was compiled from lists submitted by four graft-busting agencies including the NACC, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Office of the Auditor-General. 

Officials who escape being transferred and suspended under the premier's order will face internal reshuffles at their ministries.

The suspension order is meant to prevent officials from tampering with evidence during the probes.

New NACC president, Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, said Monday there would be no "honeymoon period" for the recently appointed commissioners, who will start to work immediately on investigations.

They will act with the transparency, professionalism and honesty that characterise the anti-graft agency, he said ahead of the new-look panel's first meeting Monday.

Newly appointed members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission led by Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, second right, make an offering at a shrine and pay respect to a Buddha statue on their first day in office in Nonthaburi Monday. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

Five new graft-busters were appointed to the nine-member agency in November, following the retirement of the former commissioners.

They include Pol Gen Watcharapol, who some say won the top post because of junta backing.

He denies the accusation saying it was a straightforward selection by the eight other members.

The four other new members are former State Audit Commissioner Witthaya Arkhompithak, former permanent secretary for justice Suwana Suwanjutha, former chief judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court Surasak Khiriwichian, and former director of the army's internal audit office Boonyawaj Khreauhong.

"All have the necessary experience and knowledge to conduct investigative work and fact-finding, as well as the determination to do so," said Pol Gen Watcharapol, a former deputy national police chief.

They will work alongside four other commissioners still serving: Supa Piyajitti, Pol Gen Sathapon Laothong, Preecha Lertkamolmart and Narong Rathamarit.

The nine commissioners held their first meeting later Monday following royal endorsement of the new members. 

First order of the day was dividing up ongoing probes among themselves. Outgoing NACC members Vicha Mahakun, Prasart Pongsivapai and Phakdee Photisiri also attended the meeting as part of the transition process.

It was important that all graftbusters review probes and examine details of those still pending together, Pol Gen Wacharapol said.

"Probes in which there is enough evidence to move forward must be carried out thoroughly. Cases where there is insufficient evidence will be dropped," he said.

He was asked why the NACC cleared former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban of 2010 red-shirt crackdown charges and yet ruled against ex-Pheu Thai PM Somchai Wongsawat's dispersal of yellow-shirt protesters in 2008.

Pol Gen Watcharapol said the two rulings were based on the evidence.

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