Corruption chief feels ‘no pressure’ in watch scandal

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

NATIONAL Anti Corruption Commission President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday that he feels no pressure to investigate his former boss who has been the subject of public speculation over an unreported wristwatch and diamond ring.

 

Watcharapol said he is waiting for Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan’s response to a demand from the NACC that he explain within 30 days how the assets were required. Watcharapol said he feels no pressure to press ahead with the probe even though people would accuse him of being too close to the deputy PM.

 

Prawit should already have evidence to prove his innocence, he said.

 

During last week’s photo shoot of the new Cabinet at Government House, Prawit was seen to possess an extravagant wristwatch and a diamond ring which had not previously been reported to the NACC. The revelation was widely discussed on social media.

 

After the news broke, the anti-graft body announced it would launch a probe into what appeared to be a multi-million-baht Richard Mille watch worn by the junta’s deputy prime minister, as well as a large diamond ring.

 

Under NACC law, political office-holders as well as high-ranking officials must report their assets before assuming their posts and after they leave the posts. They are not required to declare assets while in office.

Prawit reportedly declared no assets worth more than Bt200,000 when he entered the Cabinet in 2014.

 

Watcharapol said the NACC required him to clarify the facts about the watch and the ring, and would then check the facts to see whether there was any wrongdoing in the deputy PM’s report of declared assets.

 

The NACC would not be able to expedite the case considering the 30-day response deadline given to Prawit.

 

Watcharapol said he was not worried about the case because the NACC has certain regulations to follow and did not feel any pressure on him, despite his close relationship to Prawit.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30333579

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-10

5 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Prawit should already have evidence to prove his innocence, he said

 

So there you go... He already believes Prawit is innocent, so really no need to investigate :)

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

that his watch and his ring indeed cost that much and relaying on some

website that supposedly identified the model of the watch and it's cost,

and as for the diamond ring, i was in the diamonds business for many years,

and it's impossible to tell the size in carat, clarity and quality of a stone

for a distance, a 4-5 carat diamond can cost anywhere from few thousands

of dollars to a 100k and over, so allow the man his dignity and until there'r

solid proof that indeed those bling-bling really cost that much and he has

no explanations for them that you can all erect the gallows in the city square...

Why should he when the order of play is a foregone conclusion

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

that his watch and his ring indeed cost that much and relaying on some

website that supposedly identified the model of the watch and it's cost,

and as for the diamond ring, i was in the diamonds business for many years,

and it's impossible to tell the size in carat, clarity and quality of a stone

for a distance, a 4-5 carat diamond can cost anywhere from few thousands

of dollars to a 100k and over, so allow the man his dignity and until there'r

solid proof that indeed those bling-bling really cost that much and he has

no explanations for them that you can all erect the gallows in the city square...

If the bling is not of the high value as  has been reported, good he has a simple explanation to the Thai people.

 

But no, he avoids meetings says nothing and is clearly relying on his NACC cronies to cover this up. 

Let's hope the media does not let it go as quickly as the government.  Selective enforcement is the cornerstone of the Thai judicial system.  

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

that his watch and his ring indeed cost that much and relaying on some

website that supposedly identified the model of the watch and it's cost,

and as for the diamond ring, i was in the diamonds business for many years,

and it's impossible to tell the size in carat, clarity and quality of a stone

for a distance, a 4-5 carat diamond can cost anywhere from few thousands

of dollars to a 100k and over, so allow the man his dignity and until there'r

solid proof that indeed those bling-bling really cost that much and he has

no explanations for them that you can all erect the gallows in the city square...

admittedly, the court of public opinion is not yet at the standard we would like, yet it seems better than the behavior, generally, of thai officials; that being deny,deny,deflect,deny....

5 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

So there you go... He already believes Prawit is innocent, so really no need to investigate :)

I believe he is saying if innocent, it's easy to prove. 

Once high enough up the food chain, one becomes 'Teflon' to corruption charges it so seems.  So that beggars the question: How do those in the upper echelons of government plan to end corruption when they can not and will not wipe their own butts first?
It's a valid question.

 

Of course he feels no pressure, he already knows who has buttered his bread. Stress and pressure come from not knowing what the right decision is, this guy already knows what his 'right' decision is and how much he will benefit from enacting it.

1 hour ago, Curmudgeon1 said:

I believe he is saying if innocent, it's easy to prove. 

I believe he was not saying that. Vive le difference.

 

For me, the underlying assumption that Thais are venal and dishonest has produced far fewer disappointments than choosing to believe, despite plentiful evidence, that they are not.

Edited December 10, 20178 yr by Sid Celery

It would make the whole nation smile if his explanation was "well actually they're fakes" and completely diffuse the situation.  However unless that happens the junta will have shown it's true nature.

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

that his watch and his ring indeed cost that much and relaying on some

website that supposedly identified the model of the watch and it's cost,

and as for the diamond ring, i was in the diamonds business for many years,

and it's impossible to tell the size in carat, clarity and quality of a stone

for a distance, a 4-5 carat diamond can cost anywhere from few thousands

of dollars to a 100k and over, so allow the man his dignity and until there'r

solid proof that indeed those bling-bling really cost that much and he has

no explanations for them that you can all erect the gallows in the city square...

Obviously cheap fakes.

Next government regulations ought to include a provision for officer's uniforms having mandatory extra long sleeves. Would help avoiding further unfortunate misunderstandings and bring happiness to the Thai people.

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The NACC would not be able to expedite the case considering the 30-day response deadline given to Prawit

Meanwhile, great success for International anti corruption day celebrated by all.....leaps and bounds in the last 3 years.

16 minutes ago, Morch said:

Next government regulations ought to include a provision for officer's uniforms having mandatory extra long sleeves. Would help avoiding further unfortunate misunderstandings and bring happiness to the Thai people.

I think they get ample dosage of happiness on Friday evening tv

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

that his watch and his ring indeed cost that much and relaying on some

website that supposedly identified the model of the watch and it's cost,

and as for the diamond ring, i was in the diamonds business for many years,

and it's impossible to tell the size in carat, clarity and quality of a stone

for a distance, a 4-5 carat diamond can cost anywhere from few thousands

of dollars to a 100k and over, so allow the man his dignity and until there'r

solid proof that indeed those bling-bling really cost that much and he has

no explanations for them that you can all erect the gallows in the city square...

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

 

Works for me. But then I know and understand Thais and Thainess. Most don't.

...PHEW.. and just when I thought priorities were not important...

Normally, when you’re innocent of a crime and you have evedence to show it, you do it straight away. There would be absolutely no reason to wait or even need 30 days. 

 

You can see why people are annoyed. And they have absolutely every right to be so. These people staged a coup under the pretext of fighting corruption. The very last thing they want is to look corrupt. 

I know one thing, tradition will not be broken in this case. Look at the NACC record, no upper management has ever been sacked under their laws/rules. Benny will walk.

11 hours ago, ezzra said:

There's a bit of hang 'em high attitude going on here, the poor man has

been tried, found guilty and sentenced in the court of public opinions

that his watch and his ring indeed cost that much and relaying on some

website that supposedly identified the model of the watch and it's cost,

and as for the diamond ring, i was in the diamonds business for many years,

and it's impossible to tell the size in carat, clarity and quality of a stone

for a distance, a 4-5 carat diamond can cost anywhere from few thousands

of dollars to a 100k and over, so allow the man his dignity and until there'r

solid proof that indeed those bling-bling really cost that much and he has

no explanations for them that you can all erect the gallows in the city square...

But they are not talking about industrial grade diamonds with this fellow. Benny wants you to know what he has, a show off type.

Pol General   Watch    arapol Prasarnrajkit 

Prawit reportedly declared no assets worth more than Bt200,000 when he entered the Cabinet in 2014.

 

Only 200,000? 

Terrifying this poverty.

 

A long long time ago , there was a similar case where a high profile politicians new wealth was questioned.

 

His explanation ? His wife was very frugal with the houskeeping and over the years has accumulated the substantial lump sum under scrutiny.

 

Could be the same for not so poor old Prawit.

18 hours ago, rooster59 said:

NATIONAL Anti Corruption Commission President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday that he feels no pressure to investigate his former boss who has been the subject of public speculation over an unreported wristwatch and diamond ring.

why would he feel pressure ? i do his job the same as he does;

i feel no pressure

21 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday that he feels no pressure to investigate his former boss 

That's precisely what you are blamed for!

The financial crash in 2007-8 in the west only one or two Bankers went to jail?

The rules are there, but nobody wants to be audited here including the investigators and prosecutors so the big broom does its work, and Joe Soap pays up.

And the status quo remains