Two former members of Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) have been sentenced to three years in prison each for concealing documents linked to Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan’s luxury watches case. The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on May 27 convicted former NACC chairman Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit and former commissioner Ms. Supa Piyachitti for failing to disclose investigation records despite court rulings ordering their release.
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Both defendants were later granted bail of 400,000 baht each while appealing the verdict. The court also barred them from leaving Thailand without permission, while on bail.
The case was brought by anti-corruption activist Mr. Veera Somkwamkid, secretary-general of the People’s Network Against Corruption. Veera accused 12 current and former NACC officials of concealing records connected to Gen. Prawit’s ownership of luxury watches when he briefly served as acting prime minister in 2022 after Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha was suspended by the Constitutional Court pending a ruling on his term in office.
The Constitutional Court later ruled that Prayut had not exceeded the constitutional limit and could continue serving as prime minister. Veera subsequently withdrew lawsuits against all defendants except Watcharapol and Supa.
According to the complaint, the NACC officials failed to comply with rulings requiring disclosure of three categories of information: reports gathering evidence and facts, opinions from NACC officials involved in the investigation, and meeting reports related to the inquiry into whether Gen. Prawit had falsely declared assets or concealed expensive watches and jewellery.
The plaintiff alleged that some pages handed over were blacked out with tape while others were blank, preventing access to essential information. The court found that Watcharapol and Supa intentionally failed to carry out their duties under Section 157 of Thailand’s Criminal Code concerning misconduct by public officials.
The court dismissed charges against several other defendants during earlier proceedings, while Veera attempted unsuccessfully to withdraw complaints against some remaining officials. Judges ruled that dropping those cases would not benefit the public and could significantly affect state interests.
The ruling is likely to renew scrutiny over transparency within Thailand’s anti-corruption bodies and the long-running controversy surrounding Gen. Prawit’s undeclared luxury watches. The case has remained politically sensitive since questions first emerged over the ownership and disclosure of the timepieces.
The ThaiNewsRoom reported that both convicted former officials are expected to continue fighting the case in the appeal court while remaining free on bail under the travel restriction imposed by the court.
Picture courtesy of TNR
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thainewsroom 28 May 2026
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