More graft-panel powers mooted

[webfact]

More graft-panel powers mooted
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) yesterday floated the idea of introducing new mechanisms to help the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) curb the rising instances of corruption at the local level, CDC spokesman Amorn Wanichwiwatana said.

Over the past week, the CDC has been deliberating the roles of independent agencies, specifically those of the NACC and the State Audit Commission. The aim of the scrutiny was to give NACC the authority to investigate those found to be unusually wealthy or of malfeasance among holders of posts in political and independent agencies as well as that of state officials, the spokesman said.

He elaborated that the NACC should be given the authority to examine the assets of these officials and that details of this would be specified in relevant organic laws.

If the NACC deems it necessary to take criminal action in certain cases, it should be able to take them to the Office of the Attorney General, which will forward them for prosecution at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Person holding Political Position, Amorn explained.

Apart from that, the drafters also agreed that they should set out principles for finance and monetary discipline, he revealed, adding that independent agencies should also be more integrated. For instance, when the NACC finds such violations, it should call on the audit commission to launch a parallel scrutiny, Amorn said.

The drafters also deliberated on the audit commission's term as well as its composition, and initially agreed that the commission be comprised of experts in relevant fields such as general auditing, accounting and finance. Their term has yet to be finalised, Amorn said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/More-graft-panel-powers-mooted-30273093.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-17

[ChrisY1]

"experts in relevant fields such as general auditing, accounting and finance."

This must be a new concept ........I think what the CDC actually means is "dodgy auditors, crooked accountants and bank thieves".

[NongKhaiKid]

What's the point of extra powers if they don't get used or are used very selectively and not always for reasons of justice and fairness ?

There are laws in place already but ... !

[chainarong]

What's the point of extra powers if they don't get used or are used very selectively and not always for reasons of justice and fairness ?

There are laws in place already but ... !

The incidence of corruption since the Junta seized power is increasing, so how close to home is it

[NongKhaiKid]

What's the point of extra powers if they don't get used or are used very selectively and not always for reasons of justice and fairness ?

There are laws in place already but ... !

The incidence of corruption since the Junta seized power is increasing, so how close to home is it

I doubt your question will ever be answered satisfactorily.

From Day 1 the wealth of junta members was off limits.

When NLA members started hiring family members, one admiral gave jobs to 4 of his family, it was promised there would be an enquiry and those not ' qualified ' would have to give up their posts.

Since then - Silence !

To much fanfare a list of 100 corrupt officials was compiled and 2 more lists followed.

A few officials were moved sideways following the first list but since then, in respect of all 3 lists, - Silence !

Edited November 17, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[smutcakes]

Why dont they give the NACC and these agenices a trial run with all these new powers and then let have a go at the Park case, and looking into unusual wealth of the military Generals?

See how the new powers work.

[Srikcir]

Based on its current investigative activities, I don't see where these additional powers add anything more to the NACC.

NACC already has the power to investigate unusual wealth and malfeasance among holders (and former holders) of posts in political and independent agencies as well as that of state officials. It can and does now refer persons to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution. In fact NACC currently has the authority to prosecute persons itself should the OAG decline to prosecute.

NACC has asked CDC for additional powers to impeach government officials and to include armed enforcement officers in its organization to conduct arrests. But none of those proposals have been endorsed by the CDC.

Maybe NACC wants the added power to independently initiate investigations in lieu of any referrals, ie., from the PM, NLA, RTP, etc. From that perspective NACC could become a modern day Spectre a la James Bond.

[Emster23]

This hasn't got a snowballs chance in Phuket of ever being enacted.