EDITORIAL

Prawit’s watch could be ticking time bomb

By The Nation

 

If the deputy PM’s luxury goods aren’t fully explained, we can write off the junta’s war on corruption

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has to prove its neutrality and its professionalism as it sifts the facts behind Prawit Wongsuwan’s disturbing possession of luxury trinkets far beyond the reach of his dual salary as deputy prime minister and defence minister. Mishandling this matter would not just undermine its own credibility – it would render farcical the ruling junta’s stated mission of ending corruption in the name of national reform.

 

The posh glint of Prawit’s wristwatch and diamond ring couldn’t fail to catch the public’s eye in photos of the newly reshuffled Cabinet last week. It was readily acknowledged that he has every right to flaunt his wealth, as rich people are wont to do. The problem is that Prawit failed to mention these luxury goods in the declaration of assets required of all political officeholders. 

 

If he obtained them after taking office, and since he cannot afford them on his salary or based on his declared level of wealth, his possession of them implies that something untoward has occurred. It places the junta’s “Brother No 2” in a tricky position, because he gained his lofty position on the back of a military coup aimed at ending widespread corruption in politics. 

 

If the public is suspicious of Prawit, it is also dubious about the NACC’s readiness to dig into the affair. All of its members owe their postings to the junta, and its director, Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, previously worked on General Prawit’s staff. Shortly after the coup in May 2014, he rose from deputy police chief to acting police chief, then was named to the National Legislative Assembly, and then was deputy secretary general to the prime minister under Prawit’s purview. After he became head of the NACC, it cleared several other junta officials of alleged corruption regarding the construction of the Army’s costly Rajabhakti Park.

 

Amid calls for him to step aside while Prawit’s luxury items are scrutinised, Watcharapol has said only that the commission had given Prawit 30 days to explain where the assets came from. He also expressed confidence that Prawit would be able to prove his innocence.

 

Evidently Watchapol sees no conflict of interest in his continued involvement as the agency quizzes a man with whom he enjoys such a close relationship. This in itself is appalling. Watcharapol should stand down, if only temporarily, or risk the investigation being condemned as a whitewash.

 

Adding fuel to the controversy is Prawit supporters hinting at possible loopholes by which he could escape scrutiny. It’s been noted, for example, that political officeholders and high-ranking officials are legally required to report their assets before assuming their posts and upon leaving them – but not while they’re in office.

 

On being named to the Cabinet in 2014, Prawit reportedly declared no individual asset worth more than Bt200,000. It’s been helpfully suggested in the news media that he simply say the watch is on loan from a wealthy friend and the ring was a family heirloom actually owned by a sibling. But Prawit has already admitted owning both for a long time. He just hasn’t said why he didn’t declare them.

 

The NACC has a duty to find out what’s going on here. It won’t be difficult tracking down the origins of such expensive accoutrements.

 

The Richard Mille watch can be traced through its distributor – unless of course it’s fake. And then we have a whole different story on our wrists.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30333722

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-12

I fail to  see the need for an official whitewash on the whole affair. He is a crook, the rest of the Junta are crooks, the cops are crooks, along with pretty much every official nationwide and everybody knows it. All the whitewash in the world won't change that. The whole thing will amount to no more than a moments embarrassment and will gradually be forgotten. Corruption is here to stay for some time to come folks.

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mishandling this matter would not just undermine its own credibility – it would render farcical the ruling junta’s stated mission of ending corruption in the name of national reform.

Good editorial; kudos to the Nation.

 

It is true; failure to act effectively in this case would imply a level of hypocrisy that would likely be intolerable. Yes, successive Thai gov'ts have displayed an enormous amount of hypocrisy, but coming near the end of the military term and in the lead up to an election, it gathers significance. This is a small issue, but one where the populace can really get their teeth into it. There is a simplicity that is easy to understand and hard to ignore.

 

It also puts into question the NACC. If they cannot manage this case properly, then how can they possibly manage general corruption in Thailand?

 

 

It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. 

Every government that’s ruled here has been corrupt. For anyone who thought for a second that this lot weren’t, this is all the proof you need. Why would they be any different? ‘Cos they said they were? 

 

Since this watch story has emerged, we’ve seen more stories than ever about ‘zero tolerance’ on corruption. Planting seeds far too late. The government can come out with the best excuse in the world to defend the deputy PM, but the big question still remains regardless of whether it’s the truth or not, “why didn’t you say this from the very beginning?”.

good guys in, bad guys out
good watches in, bad watches out

52 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Good editorial; kudos to the Nation.

 

It is true; failure to act effectively in this case would imply a level of hypocrisy that would likely be intolerable. Yes, successive Thai gov'ts have displayed an enormous amount of hypocrisy, but coming near the end of the military term and in the lead up to an election, it gathers significance. This is a small issue, but one where the populace can really get their teeth into it. There is a simplicity that is easy to understand and hard to ignore.

 

It also puts into question the NACC. If they cannot manage this case properly, then how can they possibly manage general corruption in Thailand?

 

 

It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. 

It is a good editorial but in my view it misses one critical point.While it is correct the watch should have been mentioned on the assets declaration, it doesn't touch on the discrepancy between the very modest salary and the insanely expensive bit of bling.If the war on corruption is to be taken seriously every senior bureaucrat or military officer must be ready to explain such anomalies.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prawit’s watch could be ticking time bomb

Best be careful when going to the bathroom then. 

This crazy issue has gone way overboard with too much zeal and vigor

to be seen doing justice, this fascination and fixation of catching people

with no explanations to their wealth, if this is the case, than i guess that

nearly all of the government, police and army elite can be found guilty as well

of being unusually wealthy, with mentions and condos costing in the high

ten's of millions and fancy cars costing ten's of millions of baht on a

seemingly bureaucrat's salary....

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Mishandling this matter would not just undermine its own credibility

If such a thing were possible.  It would have to have some credibility to start with.   Actions taken by the Prawit and the NACC have only made the situation worse. 

Prayuth has lost all credibility for not getting rid of this guy.

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Good editorial; kudos to the Nation.

 

It is true; failure to act effectively in this case would imply a level of hypocrisy that would likely be intolerable. Yes, successive Thai gov'ts have displayed an enormous amount of hypocrisy, but coming near the end of the military term and in the lead up to an election, it gathers significance. This is a small issue, but one where the populace can really get their teeth into it. There is a simplicity that is easy to understand and hard to ignore.

 

It also puts into question the NACC. If they cannot manage this case properly, then how can they possibly manage general corruption in Thailand?

 

 

It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. 

if one searches their own memory as to the recent accomplishments of this regime, hard to come to any positive conclusions; easy to see their stumbles;

in their own way, seems the thai public is arriving at that same conclusion;

once the junta loses the public, it will never get it back

Public not to speculate while Director of NACC speculates Prawit is innocent, hypocrisy in action

 

Other Thread

ACTING National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) secretary-general Worawit Sookboon yesterday appealed for “normal procedures” to be followed over allegations regarding Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan’s possession of a luxury watch and diamond ring.

Worawit urged people to let the NACC do its job before jumping to any conclusions.

“Please let us follow our normal work procedures. Don’t speculate too much about it,” said Worawit

 

This thread

 

Amid calls for him to step aside while Prawit’s luxury items are scrutinised, Watcharapol has said only that the commission had given Prawit 30 days to explain where the assets came from. He also expressed confidence that Prawit would be able to prove his innocence.

 

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

This crazy issue has gone way overboard with too much zeal and vigor

to be seen doing justice, this fascination and fixation of catching people

with no explanations to their wealth, if this is the case, than i guess that

nearly all of the government, police and army elite can be found guilty as well

of being unusually wealthy, with mentions and condos costing in the high

ten's of millions and fancy cars costing ten's of millions of baht on a

seemingly bureaucrat's salary....

So you are saying they should ignore signs of corruption for the simple reason many people are corrupt?

 

Interesting approach, i wonder how that will solve anything...

Free gift from submarine purchase.

Forget about the watch. Prawit must show me the trick, how he could set aside around 12.500 USD every month in between 2008 and 2014.

 

Calculate by yourself, numbers are from Wiki: "In 2008, Prawit declared assets of 57 million baht. In his 2014 declaration, his assets had risen to 87 million baht.[2]

 

That is the scandal!

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

it doesn't touch on the discrepancy between the very modest salary and the insanely expensive bit of bling.

Nor the 5 million a year he has accrued during each of the last SIX years on an annual salary of less than 180,000

42 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

So you are saying they should ignore signs of corruption for the simple reason many people are corrupt?

 

Interesting approach, i wonder how that will solve anything...

                                           

                                     "Getting rid of corruption?      Not on my watch!

 

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

if one searches their own memory as to the recent accomplishments of this regime, hard to come to any positive conclusions; easy to see their stumbles;

in their own way, seems the thai public is arriving at that same conclusion;

once the junta loses the public, it will never get it back

The Junta has already lost the public judging by all the comments from my numerous Thai friends and it is only continuing to make things worse by its ban on political meetings, failure to stste an election date, continuos use of law 44 to overide normal justice and the stupid statement that it all in problems of national security etc. etc.

if his watch is not ticking then it must be a cheap fake

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I fail to  see the need for an official whitewash on the whole affair. He is a crook, the rest of the Junta are crooks, the cops are crooks, along with pretty much every official nationwide and everybody knows it. All the whitewash in the world won't change that. The whole thing will amount to no more than a moments embarrassment and will gradually be forgotten. Corruption is here to stay for some time to come folks.

Just like the rest of the world.  "Thank You!"

 

3 hours ago, Colabamumbai said:

Prayuth has lost all credibility.

I concluded that on the day he staged the coup after lots of assurances that he will not do that. Then the deluge of military corruption and he did nothing. He lost all credibility on all fronts besides corruption. 

13 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

I concluded that on the day he staged the coup after lots of assurances that he will not do that. Then the deluge of military corruption and he did nothing. He lost all credibility on all fronts besides corruption. 

Deception is a common military tactic.

 

13 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Good editorial; kudos to the Nation.

 

It is true; failure to act effectively in this case would imply a level of hypocrisy that would likely be intolerable. Yes, successive Thai gov'ts have displayed an enormous amount of hypocrisy, but coming near the end of the military term and in the lead up to an election, it gathers significance. This is a small issue, but one where the populace can really get their teeth into it. There is a simplicity that is easy to understand and hard to ignore.

 

It also puts into question the NACC. If they cannot manage this case properly, then how can they possibly manage general corruption in Thailand?

 

 

It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. 

 

Remember the statues in the park; the nephew with the brand new building firm based on an army base; the luxurious trip to Hawaii? Not the first time the 'war on corruption" has been tested and found wanting.

 

Look up the statistics regarding NACC successful prosecutions and case completions.

 

The last straw - I doubt it.

13 hours ago, jayboy said:

It is a good editorial but in my view it misses one critical point.While it is correct the watch should have been mentioned on the assets declaration, it doesn't touch on the discrepancy between the very modest salary and the insanely expensive bit of bling.

"...it doesn't touch on the discrepancy...''.

Well, apart from where that editorial specifically mentioned it..."If he obtained them after taking office, and since he cannot afford them on his salary or based on his declared level of wealth, his possession of them implies that something untoward has occurred".

Edited December 12, 20178 yr by Just Weird

10 hours ago, fxe1200 said:

Forget about the watch. Prawit must show me the trick, how he could set aside around 12.500 USD every month in between 2008 and 2014.

 

Calculate by yourself, numbers are from Wiki: "In 2008, Prawit declared assets of 57 million baht. In his 2014 declaration, his assets had risen to 87 million baht.[2]

 

That is the scandal!

"Prawit must show me the trick..."

The real point is that he does not have to do that until he leaves office.  It's his assets at that point that count.

A troll post has been removed. 

11 hours ago, fxe1200 said:

Forget about the watch. Prawit must show me the trick, how he could set aside around 12.500 USD every month in between 2008 and 2014.

 

Calculate by yourself, numbers are from Wiki: "In 2008, Prawit declared assets of 57 million baht. In his 2014 declaration, his assets had risen to 87 million baht.[2]

 

That is the scandal!

Bit coin, he bought low and sold high. 55555

16 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I fail to  see the need for an official whitewash on the whole affair. He is a crook, the rest of the Junta are crooks, the cops are crooks, along with pretty much every official nationwide and everybody knows it. All the whitewash in the world won't change that. The whole thing will amount to no more than a moments embarrassment and will gradually be forgotten. Corruption is here to stay for some time to come folks.

Corruption is here to stay for some time to come folks.

 

Its the backbone of the country, take it away and no country

13 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

if his watch is not ticking then it must be a cheap fake

If the watch don't tick, you must acquit!

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Watcharapol has said only that the commission had given Prawit 30 days to explain where the assets came from. He also expressed confidence that Prawit would be able to prove his innocence.

Why would he need 30 days to explain?

He could explain immediately and the be allowed a few days to provide any documents or other evidence.

No, the 30 days is just to allow the heat to die down, and hope that the public forgets - or some other scandal comes along to deflect their attention.

Anyway, before the investigation has even started, the chief investigator is already "confident that Prawit would be able to prove his innocence" - so, that's alright then.