Corrupt officials must be made to pay compensation, NACC suggests

[webfact]

Corrupt officials must be made to pay compensation, NACC suggests
WASU VIPOOSANAPAT
NATION

BANGKOK: -- AFTER LOSING the court battle to avoid paying huge compensation for the "lesson learned" from the controversial Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant project, the authorities need to find a more efficient asset-tracing mechanism to ensure corrupt officials pay out in the long run, according to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Professor Sirilaksana Khoman, chairwoman of the committee for the prevention of economic sector corruption at the NACC, said the country should employ an asset-tracking system to ensure that those who were convicted for corruption would pay the "damages".

The law could be amended or the government could use FraudNet, a network of 67 lawyers in 60 countries, to track the money trail, she told a seminar on "Klong Dan project, who's right or wrong to pay for compensation?" at the National Institute of Development Administration on Friday.

Using such mechanisms would make it easier for Thailand to file charges against these officials because it could track the corrupt money.

The Klong Dan project involved corruption at many levels, she said.

Some officials from the company that sold the land to the Pollution Control Department (PCD) were the same persons who sat in the NVPSKG joint venture, the company that the PCD hired for the plant's construction.

The Bt23-billion construction cost was well over budget, as the real construction cost could be only Bt4 billion, the NACC found.

The construction was not so complicated for the PCD to hire a private firm to run the project. The PCD could actually have proceeded with it, she added.

Sirirat Vasuwat, the NACC's representative from the research industry, said the Extradition Act needed to be amended, because the law made it hard to bring some of the culprits who fled abroad back to pay compensation.

"Being under this law means the country where the culprits stay must agree with Thailand to have them returned for the charge.

"If they don't, we can't do anything else and we will also lose the compensation," she said.

Medhi Krongkaew, a former NACC member, said that at the time, a representative from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the lender for the project, also colluded with governmental officials to move the plant site from the Chao Phraya River to Tambon Klong Dan in Samut Prakan, which was not an appropriate area.

After some high-ranking corrupt officials arranged the urgent proposal to move the construction site, the ADB representative endorsed it "overnight" without careful review.

"The project was moved to this site even though the feasibility study carried out by the ADB stated that Tambon Klong Dan was not a suitable location for the construction," he said.

"This is ridiculous," he said.

However, Methi, who is also a lecturer at the School of Development Economics of the National Institute of Development Administration, said that to avert corruption in future mega-projects, the government needs to set up a "central monitoring organisation".

This should include a joint committee from various industries, governmental bodies, civil societies and technical specialists, to arrange decision-making before the project takes off.

The role of this organisation would be to review the feasibility study to determine if the project could be implemented in reality, as well as to check if there would be other people who would receive a hidden benefit from the project.

Last month, the Klong Dan case made the headlines after the PCD entered negotiations to pay compensation to NVPSKG, the six-firm consortium that won the Supreme Administrative Court battle over more than Bt9 billion in compensation over the now-cancelled, graft-plagued project.

The scandal began in 1997 when PCD hired NVPSKG Joint Venture to design and build the Klong Dan wastewater facility worth Bt23 billion.

It was also brought to the attention of the National Counter-Corruption Commission, the predecessor of the NACC since 1999, as several government officials and politicians, including former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame, were found guilty of corruption related to the Klong Dan project.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Corrupt-officials-must-be-made-to-pay-compensation-30249406.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-09

[ChrisY1]

Corrupt officials repay their thefts......or compensation......never happen!

[ramrod711]

Sirirat Vasuwat, the NACC's representative from the research industry, said the Extradition Act needed to be amended, because the law made it hard to bring some of the culprits who fled abroad back to pay compensation.

From what I've seen it is impossible to bring back culprits that have fled abroad. Heirs to large companies, crooked monks and convicted criminal ex PMs are all enjoying life abroad with impunity.

[DaffyDuck]

From what I've seen it is impossible to bring back culprits that have fled abroad. Heirs to large companies, crooked monks and convicted criminal ex PMs are all enjoying life abroad with impunity.

+1

[Monkeysee]

"This is ridiculous," no sir, "This is Thailand!"

[z42]

Well what about targeting their assets in Thaiiland and siezing them? I know it's not quite so simple and people's assets aren't always in their own names but surely anti graft laws should be reformed so as to tackle such avoidance of payment (or am I missing the point I wonder)

[robblok]

This is the time for the Junta to show if it really want to help Thailand ahead. If they can implement this and anchor it in laws that cant be changed then at least corrupt officials have to pay back their ill gotten gains. As long as this is not the case nothing will change.

I have more faith in the junta doing this as the previous government who wanted to legalize 25.000 corruption cases. However I won't hold my breath because part of me thinks that no politician / military wants this as they fear it will be used against them once they loose power.

[kurnell]

Has any corrupt official ever paid back the money they stole in the 3rd world?

[pitrevie]

Well for a starter they could remove the passport automatically of anyone who fleas abroad.

[madmitch]

Well for a starter they could remove the passport automatically of anyone who fleas abroad.

A little too late methinks!

But I assume you mean that the person would be stuck in the country he/she has fled to and may eventually be deported back to Thailand due to overstay.

I suppose not all would qualify for Macedonian citizenship.

[ezzra]

I beg to differ, corrupt officials should be striped of all their wealth, pay fines and penalties and go to

jail... you will see that the problems of corruption will almost disappear,, no more slap on the

wrist and transfer to inactive positions....

[seajae]

when they hit them with small fines at best what can they expect, they are not jailed, they are given piddling little fines so they make a motza and never do time. Give them huge fines, big jail time and really hit them hard, slapping them on the wrist does absolutely nothing to deter them, until they see that their fortunes are being taken and they are actually doing big jail time nothing will change.

[moe666]

I have not noticed the Thai government asking for the opinion of posters here

[HerbalEd]

Here's a suggestion: Arrest them, charge them, put them on trial, and if they're found guilty throw them in jail the same as anyone else found guilty of breaking the law.

[soalbundy]

Well for a starter they could remove the passport automatically of anyone who fleas abroad.

What have fleas got to do with it ? or are they fleeing as well.

[Pib]

Thailand is not serious about extraditing or chasing anyone who flees Thailand due to a charge/conviction. Lots of talk; little to no action unless maybe a person considers as action govt press releases talking about trying to bring some one back to Thailand. Yea, lots of talk.

[soalbundy]

Many officials were getting worried for a moment until they realized it was only a suggestion.

[Pib]

The law could be amended or the government could use FraudNet, a network of 67 lawyers in 60 countries, to track the money trail, she told a seminar on "Klong Dan project, who's right or wrong to pay for compensation?" at the National Institute of Development Administration on Friday.

Would be plenty of business in Thailand for FraudNet...they could probably setup their headquarters here and expand their staff three-fold.

[worgeordie]

The amount of money that is lost through corruption is really

staggering,and I have never heard of anyone having to pay

the ultimate price,which is prison and seizing of their assets,

just one reason that corruption is not going to be defeated anytime

soon,as the perpetrators have little worry,if they do get found out.

The Klong Dan water treatment plant was just another black hole

of corruption,costing billions of Bht,,of tax payers money that could

have been put to much better use for the Country.the main perpetrator

is just over the boarder in Cambodia,not even in hiding,enjoying his

ill gotten gains.

regards Worgeordie

Edited December 9, 2014 by worgeordie

[terryp]

about time

[Doc46]

From what I've seen it is impossible to bring back culprits that have fled abroad. Heirs to large companies, crooked monks and convicted criminal ex PMs are all enjoying life abroad with impunity.

+1

Be a lot cheaper to send a legal CLEANER team and after they have been found guilty Clean them of the face of the Earth no matter where they are//went//hide

[chainarong]

The best way is to seize all possessions and at least 25 years in the can, that's compensation , anything less you are only playing with yourself.

[sitti]

Even in the US., corrupted government and military officials never pay the price. At worst, they resign. Then move on to private sector and continue to make money with their special connections.

[geoffP]

when they hit them with small fines at best what can they expect, they are not jailed, they are given piddling little fines so they make a motza and never do time. Give them huge fines, big jail time and really hit them hard, slapping them on the wrist does absolutely nothing to deter them, until they see that their fortunes are being taken and they are actually doing big jail time nothing will change.

Reduce them AND their family to paupers. Really hurt them as they have been prepared to hurt other (lesser) souls.

[tomacht8]

The Bt23-billion construction cost was well over budget, as the real construction cost could be only Bt4 billion, the NACC found.

And the criminals are allowed to keep the stolen money?
The state no confiscate the booty?
What is this for a legal system?
Be sure to adopt harsh penalties and also perform.

No Bails.
Complete collection of assets.
Long prison sentences without parole.

19 Billionen Baht embezzled and stolen and the criminals are still running around free?
incredible.
A slap in the face for all honestly working people.

[hkt83100]

Well for a starter they could remove the passport automatically of anyone who fleas abroad.

A little too late methinks!

But I assume you mean that the person would be stuck in the country he/she has fled to and may eventually be deported back to Thailand due to overstay.

I suppose not all would qualify for Macedonian citizenship.

IIRC it is Montenegro, the country with cheap islands for sale...

[maidee]

1) does anyone care how the tax payer's money is waisted ? 75%of thais love corruption when they get a part of it

2) we farang know how difficult it is to send money overseas... need proof that we brought it in, but those local can just transfer millions offshore with no need to proof where their "earned" money came from ?

3) is thailand so lax & corrupt that there is no follow up if someone pay their fines or not ?

[phantomfiddler]

Well for a starter they could remove the passport automatically of anyone who fleas abroad.

"Fleas" ? They are covered with them !

[spidermike007]

Well for a starter they could remove the passport automatically of anyone who fleas abroad.

A good start. Immediate revocation of the passport could help. Of course, you can buy a Spanish passport with an investment of as little as $200,000 in the country. And same goes for a US passport with $1,000,000 used to buy a home or business. But, if you are on a black list, maybe not. It all comes back to how serious the junta is, in regard to tackling this kind of stuff. The Tao case creates a tendency to think they are not. Let us see if any of the big pigs who have been arrested lately get sentenced. Many of us are waiting for that.

The bottom line is you can find the money overseas, if you are motivated enough to look. And you can impose massive fines on the corrupt pigs, if there is motivation. You can also impose fines into the millions on every member of the immediate family. Do something. For God's sake, do something.

Edited December 10, 2014 by spidermike007

[EyesWideOpen]

I have not noticed the Thai government asking for the opinion of posters here

Nor will it. The Thai government is in essence a supporter of corruption,

as they do nothing to stop it. Microscopic fines and inactive posts are

not exactly striking fear into the endless corrupt officials. If there actually

was a desire to stop corruption , it could be done in short order. No need

to reinvent the wheel, only study how Singapore was able to completely

stop corruption......