Prayut eyes declaration of all state officials’ assets

By THE NATION

 

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed anti-corruption officials to conduct a study on asset declaration by every state official, Prayong Preeyachit, secretary to the National Anti-Corruption Center said on yesterday.

Prayong, also secretary general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said the centre’s sub-panel proposed the idea at a meeting yesterday to tighten anti-corruption measures among state officials. So far, only high ranking officials have their assets declared following related anti-corruption laws.

 

The prime minister suggested the panel look at other countries to see how they handle this matter, and what impacts would follow as a result of such the practice, Prayong said. 

 

The initial idea was that any one newly recruited as a state official should declare his or her assets and this must be repeated when they work for a while to prevent and reduce their chances to engage in any illegal acts to gain wealth. Prayut was quoted as saying that it must be done equally to all groups of officials though the approach might be different.

 

The premier also suggested the centrer be upgraded into a more permanent structure with a new law enacted to support it. He has instructed the legal team to figure this out.

 

The centre was set up in late 2014 after the coup following the junta and the PM’s Office’s order to help advance normal anti-corruption efforts done by existing agencies.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30323569

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-12

Chaps around the table look a wee bit uncomfortable.

 

One assumes the Junta's self-granted amnesty would exclude them?

 

Maybe just start with the Red Shirts first, just to see if it works?

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by mtls2005

This could be interesting,as long as it taken seriously,

regards worgeordie

Everyone except "some" who are exempt from any prosecution ?

And how many thousands of state officials are there?

Who would scrutinise this at completion.....obviously there would be a huge chance of leniency toward mates.

Just can't see this initiative ever being implemented with much efficiency!

8 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Prayut eyes declaration of all state officials’ assets

 

So finally he is gonna declare his assets. Not?

4 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

And how many thousands of state officials are there?

Who would scrutinise this at completion.....obviously there would be a huge chance of leniency toward mates.

Just can't see this initiative ever being implemented with much efficiency!

 

Perhaps a good opportunity for a book:

 

' 1,000 ways to say it was just an honest mistake'.  

Declaration of all state officials assets, well some of them.

Me and my pals are exempt, so not quite a true statement.

will that include the PM's assets and bank accounts?

maybe an audit including Military spending and the spending on health and education

29 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Perhaps a good opportunity for a book:

 

' 1,000 ways to say it was just an honest mistake'.  

You can also say that "error in asset declaration is due to technical mistake". 

The Generals last asset declaration was well over a hundred million baht and that was after giving out about half a billion baht to family members after receiving that amount from his father, another soldier.

I look forward to an honest account of how these assets were come by.

Oh we finally learn about his 600m land sale?

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by binjalin

A crackdown on corrupt civil servants?

This could get interesting.

Another step in the right direction. I am sick and tired of all the negative and sarcastic comments here. Thai Visa - a hub of pessimistic misanthropic old guys - in denial  that democracy has never been in Thailand, just corruption, cronyism, shinism. But they yearn for another shin government which they would call democracy.

1 minute ago, sweatalot said:

Another step in the right direction. I am sick and tired of all the negative and sarcastic comments here. Thai Visa - a hub of pessimistic misanthropic old guys - in denial  that democracy has never been in Thailand, just corruption, cronyism, shinism. But they yearn for another shin government which they would call democracy.

Oh dear oh dear.............

25 minutes ago, sweatalot said:

Another step in the right direction. I am sick and tired of all the negative and sarcastic comments here. Thai Visa - a hub of pessimistic misanthropic old guys - in denial  that democracy has never been in Thailand, just corruption, cronyism, shinism. But they yearn for another shin government which they would call democracy.

Well it has taken over 3 years where as it should have been one of the first things done.

Lets hope it'll be collective and not selective process also including military officers but that would probably be asking too much.
Lets just wait see.

And when it is found that 95% of them are 'Unusually wealthy' how will they go about proving where the money came from ?  

 

If they do prove wrongdoing what will the punishment be and how long will it take to actually convict people of wrongdoing ?

 

The one sensible suggestion made is people being given jobs declaring all wealth and assets before they take their positions.  However; re-checking their assets 'now and again' is not good enough and it should be an annual requirement with papers submitted by independent Auditors.

 

 

53 minutes ago, sweatalot said:

Another step in the right direction. I am sick and tired of all the negative and sarcastic comments here. Thai Visa - a hub of pessimistic misanthropic old guys - in denial  that democracy has never been in Thailand, just corruption, cronyism, shinism. But they yearn for another shin government which they would call democracy.

Careful don't burst an artery. Happy news. There are more military coup governments and more years than democratically elected governments. That's a lot of corruption and cronyism from those unelected years. 

Wasn't Taksin's maid technically a millionaire? Where there is a will to hide ill gotten wealth...

Problem is I don't think people are stupid enough to put their ill gotten gains in a local bank account, first check the businesses they own,  size of the property(s) they live in and own,  then look under the beds or dig up the gardens or check which temple they used to send money to an  overseas bank account......all on a salary of 70,000baht a month

 

and which authority is going to do the checking lol

 

only one way to deal with corruption - offer big incentives to those that report suspected officials, make examples of people caught and give them hefty punishments like life jail terms, others will think twice

I applaud Prayut for this initiative. Perhaps he and his top generals will lead by example and open up to questioning of their assets rather than tell the media they have no business to question him. His angry retort "what's the problem" was neither encouraging too. 

I'm sure those around the table, including Prayut have nothing to fear as the story states that Prayut says that anyone NEWLY RECUITED would have to make the necessary declaration, so one could assume that those currently in their "government" positions could be excused from doing so..... which of course would probably be most welcome by those currently employed in government roles !

Right. After 4 years at the trough, it is now time to declare who wins. 

4 hours ago, sweatalot said:

Another step in the right direction. I am sick and tired of all the negative and sarcastic comments here. Thai Visa - a hub of pessimistic misanthropic old guys - in denial  that democracy has never been in Thailand, just corruption, cronyism, shinism. But they yearn for another shin government which they would call democracy.

Yeah or those in denial that the military and the junta are the most corrupt and divisive entity in the country. They don't "yearn for another shin government" (What a totally absurd statement), they simply would like to see an elected government return to Thailand rather than a gang of spoiled, rich brats run by a man-child that have the audacity to call themselves military men, continue to protect the interests of the elite (and by default, their own) at the expense of the rest of the country. 

6 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

 

So finally he is gonna declare his assets. Not?

Nope, that's off limits.  No one can question why he got so rich off a soldier's pay-packet.  You see, when a politican is caught with his/her hands in the till or currying favours and practicing nepotism, that is corruption, but when it's the military, and even Prayuth himself, that is just Thainess.  I've never had a junta hugger hear on TV answer by direct question on Prayuth's wealth.  As soon as you pose it, the scarper from the thread. Pathetic.

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

and what impacts would follow as a result of such the practice, Prayong said.

A very few people will learn what it means when someone says: it's lonely at the top. 

3 hours ago, smedly said:

Problem is I don't think people are stupid enough to put their ill gotten gains in a local bank account, first check the businesses they own,  size of the property(s) they live in and own,  then look under the beds or dig up the gardens or check which temple they used to send money to an  overseas bank account......all on a salary of 70,000baht a month

 

and which authority is going to do the checking lol

 

only one way to deal with corruption - offer big incentives to those that report suspected officials, make examples of people caught and give them hefty punishments like life jail terms, others will think twice

Unless you have given yourself amnesty

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by stephen tracy

3 hours ago, smedly said:

Problem is I don't think people are stupid enough to put their ill gotten gains in a local bank account, first check the businesses they own,  size of the property(s) they live in and own,  then look under the beds or dig up the gardens or check which temple they used to send money to an  overseas bank account......all on a salary of 70,000baht a month

 

and which authority is going to do the checking lol

 

only one way to deal with corruption - offer big incentives to those that report suspected officials, make examples of people caught and give them hefty punishments like life jail terms, others will think twice

Pray tell The Computer Crimes act protects all these conmen so how the hell does one blow the whistle here without going to jail

 

70.000TB Less than one fifth the money I earn in a month but ten times richer, so must have a money tree growing in their garden.

My guess is that military and police officers aren't considered state officials.  No need to check their assets, right?