Prayut’s puppies stir talk of increasing Bt3,000 anti-graft limit

[webfact]

Prayut’s puppies stir talk of increasing Bt3,000 anti-graft limit

By THE NATION

 

Breeder holds three Bangkaew puppies purchased by PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

DESPITE THE suggestion from a deputy premier, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) remains reluctant to amend the long-standing anti-graft regulation that prohibits officials from accepting gifts valued above Bt3,000.

This follows a petition filed with the NACC to probe PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who had planned to give Bangkaew puppies, each of which was worth Bt6,000, to two of his ministers.

 

Activist Srisuwan Janya last week filed a complaint with the anti-graft body about Prayut’s law violation.

 

Prayut also paid Bt25,000 for the young dogs, Bt7,000 above the listed price during his December field trip to Phitsanulok.

 

Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam tried to find some breathing space for his boss, suggesting last week that the NACC would consider an adjustment to the amendment to current limits to “keep in line with new laws”.

 

The puppies remain undelivered to the junta premier, who has kept mum about his next move, only saying that it would be done in a legal way.

 

The NACC secretary-general, Worawit Sukboon, said yesterday that the Commission had yet to consider adding an amendment to the graft regulation to its busy agenda.

 

“We thank Wissanu for his opinion but we have to take opinions from many sides,” Worawit said, possibly referring to the charter’s Article 77 that requires any legislation to involve hearings from related parties. “But we wouldn’t make it as big as a public hearing,” he went on, “only catching social thoughts should do in this case.”

 

Worawit also personally saw a good fit between the regulations – enforced since 1999 – and the current circumstances. While a draft for a new NACC law is in progress, he said, the regulation on receiving valuable gifts should be among the last to be considered.

 

Meanwhile, Panthep Klanaro-ngran, president of the anti-graft national reform committee under the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), made a pitch for updating the Bt3,000 gift limit to keep up with inflation and other developments. While the almost-two-decades-old regulation is still enforced, those who receive valuable gifts could avoid violating the letter of the law, though perhaps not the spirit, by transferring the gifts to their offices instead of keeping them for themselves. “Exchanging gifts is compulsory on some occasions, such as in international meetings ,” Panthep said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30335633

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-08

[PattayaAngel]

Why can't it be 'no gifts'?  when I worked a bottle of wine at Xmas was it and even that now has been stopped.  KISS  (keep it simple stupid).  NO GIFTS even Thais can understand that or it gets into 'grey areas' of 'watches were presents from someone who died or were loaned'.

[Bob12345]

3.000 baht is absurdly low of course.

 

Lets assume you decide to buy a couple of submarines and someone gives you the gift of a nice watch. Say, for example, lets just randomly pick a brand, a Richard Mille.

 

Would that mean you have to ask for permission to accept it? Or tell the NACC that you got it? I sue hope not as that might look like you don't have absolute power at and near the top.

 

And do regulations change if this happens regularly? As in you have over a dozen gifted watches? But what if you are close with the NACC boss?

 

I must say there are too many open questions here...

 

I suggest to postpone all cases and activate these regulations again as soon as the other side is in power.

Edited January 8, 2018 by Bob12345

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“But we wouldn’t make it as big as a public hearing,” he went on, “only catching social thoughts should do in this case.”

Thoughts are unstable, delicate things that travel erratically at high speeds, much faster than your average van driver. Therefore, let me introduce our "ThoughtCatcher 3000", the ultimate government's tool for catching thoughts. Built to exacting international standards this gadget can distinguish different types of thoughts at a distance of up to 100 meters, i.e. social thoughts, thoughts about food, brow-knitting thoughts, fleeting thoughts, etc. and makes catching them easy. Available in three popular colors: electric blue, party pink, stealthy black, and sporting a modern tinfoil-hat design with antennas, this blockbusters sells for an astounding low price of 2,999 baht on our website (that's lower that the current anti-graft regulation!).

[rkidlad]

No gifts at all. If anyone asks, explain that there's a problem with rampant corruption so we simply don't give any gifts. The PM should know better. Just don't do it. Even if it's legal, is it moral? Don't get caught up in it. Same as the deputy PM - you came in on the premise you were going to fight corruption, so don't wear any expensive gear in any capacity. Even if you win the Euro lottery, don't show off any expensive gear when you're trying to champion 'anti-corruption'. 

 

Don't like it? Then f*** off. 

[ChidlomDweller]

Pathetic attempt by the regime to broaden the conversation from Prawit's watches to finetuning the rules.  Translation for the slow of understanding: "Prawit did nothing wrong, but to avoid future unfortune misunderstandings, we concede the rules need to be finetuned."

 

 

[Ossy]

59 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Thoughts are unstable, delicate things that travel erratically at high speeds, much faster than your average van driver. Therefore, let me introduce our "ThoughtCatcher 3000", the ultimate government's tool for catching thoughts. Built to exacting international standards this gadget can distinguish different types of thoughts at a distance of up to 100 meters, i.e. social thoughts, thoughts about food, brow-knitting thoughts, fleeting thoughts, etc. and makes catching them easy. Available in three popular colors: electric blue, party pink, stealthy black, and sporting a modern tinfoil-hat design with antennas, this blockbusters sells for an astounding low price of 2,999 baht on our website (that's lower that the current anti-graft regulation!).

Excellent! . . . don't they come out with some belters? Appropriate name, too, though Warahalfwit might be better.

Edited January 8, 2018 by Ossy
error

[Chris Lawrence]

You can't use your position to obtain a deal that may or may not compromise your position. The services I worked in, NSW Government won't allow it. But lovely puppies, I bet he could have doubled his money in Bangkok.

[4evermaat]

Why not just let a friend broker the deal, or use an agency?

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Ossy]

21 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

Why not just let a friend broker the deal, or use an agency?

Sent from my ASUS_Z010D using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

'Cos that would need a little thought and a little planning, maybe . . . two things that don't sit comfortably in the typical Thai psyche and certainly not in the P1 one . . . one . . . one . . . one . . . one.

[yellowboat]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Activist Srisuwan Janya last week filed a complaint with the anti-graft body about Prayut’s law violation.

Giving Prayut a hard time of this does make one smile, but as an infraction goes, his #2 love of bling tops this by leaps and bounds.  Hope he just makes sure the dogs have a good home.  

[sammieuk1]

Its all gone to the dogs keep calm and carry on gifting and look after your Pals and Chums.