Thai Assembly calls for speedy corruption verdicts

[webfact]

POLITICS
Assembly calls for speedy corruption verdicts
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- IF THE country hopes for anti-corruption reform, prosecutions in graft cases must be speeded up and accompanied by more severe penalties, members of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) declared during a meeting at Parliament yesterday.

NRSA member Wanchai Sornsiri said prosecutions had to be expedited so a number of corruption cases can finally be settled. To ward off wrongdoers, severe penalties must also be handed down and statutes of limitations removed so that corruption cases can be prosecuted without time limitations, he added.

Wanchai said political problems should be addressed along with corruption if reformers wanted to see the problem resolved.

Another NRSA member, Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, agreed with the removal of the statutes of limitations. He said the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders should be solely responsible for taking care of corruption by political office holders, without any court appeals provided.

Seri Suwanpanon, chairman of the NRSA's political reform committee, agreed that penalties for corruption must be severe and take immediate effect without jail term suspensions.

However, he said the current anti-graft laws had no role for informants. This was viewed as critical as graft was usually performed in secret and informants were crucial to exposing cases. Related laws needed to be reviewed and amended if necessary, he concluded.

Another NRSA member, Thawinwadee Bureekul, suggested more participation from the public so they could help scrutinise corruption cases. She also stressed the need to strengthen and revamp the justice process as well as political ethics.

The NRSA members' recommendations were in line with the review and study done by the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC), which developed a reform plan for 37 agendas, including anti-corruption reform. One of its principal strategies was corruption suppression, which was strongly linked to a rapid justice process.

The NRSA is continuing to discuss 11 principal reform agendas, plus some special ones, including corruption. It will then come up with concrete work plans toward reform within a month.

Meanwhile, the NRSA spokesperson team will announce the official establishment of an NRSA whip, who will coordinate with the other two bodies of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the Cabinet today.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Assembly-calls-for-speedy-corruption-verdicts-30273094.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-17

[tuanku]

One of the biggest obstacle for any kind of whistle blowing are the current defamation laws. If these were brought into line with those which apply in most of the less corrupt countries then evidence of corruption would be easier to come by and allegations of corrupt behaviour could be made without the fear of criminal prosecution whether the allegations are true or not.

[dageurreotype]

Perhaps if potential whistle blowers were certain that those they'd exposed received punishment rather than the current 'moved to inactive post/transfer' only to return after the dust'd settled they might be more willing to put their necks out. As it is, pfft? So what? Nothing will happen to him/her.

[lucky11]

Perhaps if potential whistle blowers were certain that those they'd exposed received punishment rather than the current 'moved to inactive post/transfer' only to return after the dust'd settled they might be more willing to put their necks out. As it is, pfft? So what? Nothing will happen to him/her.

At last a Thai government seems to be serious about cracking the graft/corruption problem. I can't fault anything in the way they are going about it and hope that these intelligent ideas regarding necessary law changes are adopted and come to fruition. Just think how much confidence that will instil into the business sector and the money it will bring in from foreign companies wanting to invest in, but put off by the rampant corruption that currently permeates Thailand and in doing so, destroying so many opportunities because they know that they will have to pay a hefty 10 - 15% premium in kick-backs just to get the go ahead to invest.

Edited November 17, 2015 by lucky11

[phoenixdoglover]

It is obvious the Wheels of Justice turn incredibly slowly in Thailand,especially for high profile cases.

Speeding up the process is a worthwhile idea, however, it would be wrong to do this at the expense of due process and the rights of the accused.

Case in point is the current and proposed practice of handling some corruption cases (e.g. politicians) only at the Supreme Court level, and with no chance of appeal. This is contrary to principles of justice.

I also don't see the rationale for eliminating the statute of limitations for corruption cases. Perhaps all that is needed is to revisit the time limits and adjust them. However, if statutes of limitation are completely eliminated, this opens the door to government sponsored harassment many years after the alleged offense. Again, there is a principle of Justice I would not jettison in this attempt to "get tough".

Edited November 17, 2015 by phoenixdoglover

[ldiablo]

Perhaps if potential whistle blowers were certain that those they'd exposed received punishment rather than the current 'moved to inactive post/transfer' only to return after the dust'd settled they might be more willing to put their necks out. As it is, pfft? So what? Nothing will happen to him/her.

At last a Thai government seems to be serious about cracking the graft/corruption problem. I can't fault anything in the way they are going about it and hope that these intelligent ideas regarding necessary law changes are adopted and come to fruition. Just think how much confidence that will instil into the business sector and the money it will bring in from foreign companies wanting to invest in, but put off by the rampant corruption that currently permeates Thailand and in doing so, destroying so many opportunities because they know that they will have to pay a hefty 10 - 15% premium in kick-backs just to get the go ahead to invest.

People will only take this so called crack down serious when the people initiating the crackdown come out and prove where their unusual wealth came from. Until then it's nothing more than their usual crack down. You know the one that fizzles away like a fart in the wind.