Anti-graft body skips date in Prawit watch case probe

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

File photo: Deputy Premier General Prawit Wongsuwan

 

NACC defers decision on deputy premier after commissioner calls in sick.

 

UNCERTAINTY over the fate of Deputy Premier General Prawit Wongsuwan continued yesterday after the country’s anti-graft watchdog failed to deliver its report on the probe into Prawit’s collection of luxury wristwatches.

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) was scheduled to discuss the case and make a decision on the matter yesterday but postponed its meeting yet again, because a commissioner had called in sick. 

 

The agency had said it would hold a press conference yesterday evening to announce its conclusion on the case. NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon said his agency had its hands full and did not have time to discuss the issue yesterday. He only said the matter would be discussed today, adding that commissioner Sathaporn Laothong had taken sick leave yesterday, making it impossible for a decision to be made on the case. 

 

The controversy erupted last year when Prawit was spotted wearing a Richard Mille designer wristwatch said to be worth nearly Bt3 million. 

 

Observers immediately began questioning how Prawit could afford such an expensive watch with his income as a retired general. It was later discovered that he had not declared the item to the NACC when he became a Cabinet member. 

 

Intrigued by this, netizens dug up old photographs that indicated the general possessed numerous expensive watches. At a rough count, he had at least 22 luxury wristwatches, with their combined worth estimated at more than Bt20 million.

 

Expensive diamond on his finger

 

Prawit was also pictured wearing a diamond ring, which again was not reported to the NACC in his asset declaration.

 

The general said the ring belonged to his parents and the watches were lent to him by a long-time collector friend. That friend, however, had already passed away, according to Prawit.

 

Public scrutiny intensified because Prawit is part of the coup-installed regime that had pledged to combat corruption. 

 

Widespread disenchantment with the junta government grew after Prawit was allowed to remain in the Cabinet despite being under investigation.

 

Many observers said they were convinced the NACC would not rule the deputy PM guilty, as the agency is now chaired by his former close aide, Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit.

 

Watcharaphol, however, withdrew from the probe following criticism, in an attempt to show that the committee’s decision would be free from influence.

 

The press conference yesterday was held amid strict security. Political activist Ekachai Hongkangwan, who has held a string of symbolic protests challenging Prawit in the watch case, was banned from the press conference.

 

Earlier yesterday, Prawit maintained his story about the luxury wristwatches.

 

“Truth is the truth. I see no reason for people to attack me about this,” he told reporters.

 

The deputy premier reiterated that he had returned all the watches to their rightful owners, referring to the children of his “deceased friend”.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30361197

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-27

The commissioner called in sick?

 

Did he have a note from his mum?

So, how many commissioners can pull the same trick to extend this circus performance until the elections? 

12 minutes ago, Carib said:

So, how many commissioners can pull the same trick to extend this circus performance until the elections? 

But what if the head of the EC throws a sickie the day before elections...?

Further comments are superfluous. Allow me:

 

Everyone else would have had been through the completed investigation and court system either being guilty or let go within a short period of time with Thai people having clarity. If there was nothing to this then it would have been put to rest almost immediately. This case in itself is a reason for all Thai to stand up to these guys and throw the bums out. Thing is you can’t put sling shot up against a gun. 

He had no choice but to take time off. A big brown envelope lobed onto his desk causing a migraine deciding how to divide the contents!

Blatant lies and the whole country has to believe it.gone are the days of just fobbing things off so easily with the age of social media.hes done not a stitch to help the jaunta.should of been sacked on day one of the investigations.an imbecile full of deceit and pathetic lies.

To quote Gomer Pile;

 

"Surprise surprise surprise!!"

A disgrace, this story is like the Premchai one, the culpability is absolutely blatant and beyond question. The flat out lies and denials don't have anybody fooled. The NACC is a pathetic, pitiful entity that isn't fit to hold such a title.

 

This fat slug will have his day, as will those who are involved in this dreadful charade

'Pulling a sickie' is fast overtaking 'the brakes failed' as the number 1 excuse for avoiding responsibility.  One of Premchai's co-defendants went down with 'hypertension' yesterday. 

Just a bloody farce, this nonsense will go on until the final run up to the election, then it will be announced quietly.

Just shows what a bunch of twisted/ scheming ar++ho++s they are.

Yet these same clowns continue to spout off about they are doing things for the good of Thailand.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

after the country’s anti-graft watchdog failed to deliver its report on the probe into Prawit’s collection of luxury wristwatches.

how very thai of them

25 minutes ago, z42 said:

A disgrace, this story is like the Premchai one, the culpability is absolutely blatant and beyond question. The flat out lies and denials don't have anybody fooled. The NACC is a pathetic, pitiful entity that isn't fit to hold such a title.

 

This fat slug will have his day, as will those who are involved in this dreadful charade

I had Premchai in thought too as he probably has whiplash from how fast he is being run up the flag pole. Thing is he is not military and there are probably 3 standards: Guilty as civilian, not approachable as junta, or junta guilty but find a way to let it go as untouchable. .

3 hours ago, webfact said:

but postponed its meeting yet again, because a commissioner had called in sick. 

Dyschronometria possibly .?  ( sarcasm )

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Truth is the truth. I

Maybe its time for the red-hot spoon on toads tongue treatment .. If he ain't porky-pie'ing he ain't got nowt to worry about .. An' if he is we ain't gotta listen to any more of this sh*t ..

 

Edited December 27, 20187 yr by Justgrazing
Sp

Perhaps the ACC should investigate itself.

Unless the Anti- corruption Commission has a good excuse, the commission could be construed as corrupt .

 

The ad that pops up is inapropriate.

Learn thai fast, what is that, how to tell lies and run from resposibility.

They dont have to learn it, they do it so well.

Can't do the general just yet he is needed for the new year countdown ????

15 minutes ago, chainarong said:

Unless the Anti- corruption Commission has a good excuse, the commission could be construed as corrupt .

 

Is kicking the can down the road considered as good excuse. Seem a modus operandi like the procrastination of Suthep’s 2013 police station investigation.  

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“Truth is the truth. I see no reason for people to attack me about this,” he told reporters.

If that's the case, why did it take you a month to say that you borrowed them from a dead friend? It takea me one second to say where I got my watch.????

2 hours ago, z42 said:

A disgrace, this story is like the Premchai one, the culpability is absolutely blatant and beyond question. The flat out lies and denials don't have anybody fooled. The NACC is a pathetic, pitiful entity that isn't fit to hold such a title.

 

This fat slug will have his day, as will those who are involved in this dreadful charade

No holding back with that one then  Z .. 

Did we expect anything different ?  He might feel compelled to join a certain investigator in Australia. 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

questioning how Prawit could afford such an expensive watch with his income

Main thing is, he owns several watches. Nail the bastard liar!

ok one for the experts here...

 

have a police (let's say) general in the moo baan

 

15 million baht house

latest mercedes, porsche cayenne, bwm x5, and some other cars

just got his new FERRARI deliverd

 

all on a government (even) general or high up salary ?

1 hour ago, SABloke said:

If that's the case, why did it take you a month to say that you borrowed them from a dead friend? It takea me one second to say where I got my watch.????

Maybe he told a fib, the naughty boy.  

3 hours ago, happy chappie said:

Blatant lies and the whole country has to believe it.gone are the days of just fobbing things off so easily with the age of social media.hes done not a stitch to help the jaunta.should of been sacked on day one of the investigations.an imbecile full of deceit and pathetic lies.

pathetic, unintelligent lies at that!

No comments from Prayut. Old Prawit must have a lot of dirt on him and others. They probably all do so once one gets taken down the others will follow.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) was scheduled to discuss the case and make a decision on the matter yesterday but postponed its meeting yet again, because a commissioner had called in sick. 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the country’s anti-graft watchdog failed to deliver its report on the probe

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

commissioner calls in sick.

He'll get away with it just like the junta guys around the 'fund raising table'.