NACC to target corrupt businessmen
NATTHAPAT PHROMKAEW
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- BUSINESSMEN found to be corruptly involved with officials in state projects will be prosecuted, under a reform plan by the military, anti-graft commissioner Vicha Mahakun says.

A drastic legal amendment will be needed to empower the National Anti-Corruption Commission to interrogate such business people after officials are found guilty of corruption, Vicha said, adding that the United Nations' anti-corruption body suggested the move to officials in various countries to add power to their anti-graft work.

Citing a legal principle under British law, business people subject to a criminal investigation need to produce proof of their innocence or adequate carefulness to distance themselves from corrupt activities with government officials that they have entered into contracts with. In many countries where wiretapping by anti-graft agencies is allowed, a criminal investigation into a specious case can begin without a bribe being paid.

Vicha said arrests had been made in Japan where secret meetings to discuss suspect deals were underway.

Current Thai law says that making preparation for corrupt activity is not illegal, but Vicha said materials or talks were good leads that could result in criminal liability. "Under the current regulations, the NACC's authority to commence probes is viable only after potentially corrupt state officials are identified," he added.

In most NACC cases, only junior officials are caught because business owners protect senior officials, he said, adding that anti-graft agencies in other countries are more empowered.

Vicha said the NACC's Bureau of International Affairs had prepared the draft amendment for the law change but it was not yet finalised.


-- The Nation 2014-06-23

Going to have to build more jails! and get rid of present slander and libel laws.

Going to have to build more jails! and get rid of present slander and libel laws.

and recruit a massive amount of staff.

all been said before

all been said before

True, but this time there is no photo of them laughing their heads off as they said it(unlike last time).

all been said before

Do you EVER have anything positive to say/post . . . ? lol

I now look forward to reading the happy news every morning when having brekky, makes my cornflakes taste just that little bit sweeter.

"Current Thai law says that making preparation for corrupt activity is not illegal"

"In most NACC cases, only junior officials are caught because business owners protect senior officials" - No surprises there!

I'm interested to know how they are going to identify such potentially corrupt businesses. What's the method?

all been said before

But that was politicians talking and most of them were corrupt businessmen anyway.

all been said before

Think positive, rather than only negative.

You'll feel better.

There is no such thing as British law - but the reporter wouldn't know that.

One change in the new bribery laws in the UK is that it is now a criminal offence to know of instances of bribery and not report it. You do not need to have benefited, simply turning a blind eye or keeping quiet is an offence and you can be prosecuted.

This perhaps reflects the real levels of corruption that exist in Western countries. The US also beefed up its anti corruption laws.

Corruption is not only a Thai problem - not by a long shot.

all been said before

Another .. glass half empty ... punter. Suicide is painless... Hope you don't have kids terryp.

A good move, but shoulda been done years ago!

Gonna be a lot of guys in the clink if this goes through and works.

^

Hopefully in a rat-infested cell with maggoty rice and rancid, black water

It would seem from reading the OP that at present after the NACC has identified and presumably 'done' corrupt officials that are taking bribes they have no power to go after the other parties who give the bribes.

Or could it be that other parties will say "it is not a bribe only a gift" which could be OK for a business to give a gift while illegal for the officials to accept the "Gift" for once accepted it may by law be considered a bribe.

If that is the case then that would be what needs changing.

The NACC certainly is going to need their budget reinstated to what it was before PT started their war on corruption, even increased from there would be a good idea.

all been said before

Think positive, rather than only negative.

You'll feel better.

Naaaa......

Let him feel bitter and twisted.... Some people are not happy unless they can have something to whine about. It's called 'being old and grumpy'.

Cleaning up Thailand and removing all the evils is never going to sit well with some TVF members.

About time this was sorted out.

A good place to start would be with all the bent property developers in Pattaya who think that " Service Charge " money is thier perk for the development of a Moo Bann.

Sorting out these low life would certainly help with foriegn investment, and would do no harm at all to the image that Thailand has for being the " rip-off " nation of the world

"Current Thai law says that making preparation for corrupt activity is not illegal"

Really?

There is no such thing as British law - but the reporter wouldn't know that.

One change in the new bribery laws in the UK is that it is now a criminal offence to know of instances of bribery and not report it. You do not need to have benefited, simply turning a blind eye or keeping quiet is an offence and you can be prosecuted.

This perhaps reflects the real levels of corruption that exist in Western countries. The US also beefed up its anti corruption laws.

Corruption is not only a Thai problem - not by a long shot.

So now having a law in the UK (that incidentally applies to British Citizens worldwide), that tackles corruption head on puts the corruption in that country on a par with a country like Thailand? They are chalk and cheese, especially in the public acceptance of and the spread throughout the institutions.

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About time this was sorted out.

A good place to start would be with all the bent property developers in Pattaya who think that " Service Charge " money is thier perk for the development of a Moo Bann.

Sorting out these low life would certainly help with foriegn investment, and would do no harm at all to the image that Thailand has for being the " rip-off " nation of the world

The Thai response would of course be 'What has it got to do with an Alien who has no right to buy a property in Thailand anyway?'

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Why, have they run out of Thaksin affiliated politicians to target?

Why, have they run out of Thaksin affiliated politicians to target?

You are assuming that they have already caught all Shin clan affiliated corrupt businessmen and politicians. Where did it say that in the article?