Key opposition figures have formally accused the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of serious misconduct, submitting a petition to the House speaker requesting an investigation into the agency’s operations. The allegations center on improper investigative procedures, flawed decision-making, and a lack of transparency.
Key Allegations Detailed
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, alongside deputy Democrat Party leader Sathit Wongnongtoey and Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, presented a detailed petition on Friday. Mr. Natthaphong stated that his party, the People’s Party (PP), provided substantial evidence to House Speaker Sophon Zarum. The speaker will now decide whether the grounds are sufficient to forward the petition to the Supreme Court president to initiate a formal inquiry into the NACC.
The petition outlines four primary accusations against the NACC:
- Employing improper investigative processes.
- Reaching clear and erroneous decisions.
- Intentionally concealing information.
- Operating without transparency.
- Deliberately neglecting to investigate other related offenses.
Specific Failures Cited
Further details within the petition highlight specific instances of alleged NACC shortcomings. These include an alleged failure to conduct thorough examinations of assets and liabilities, neglecting comprehensive fact-finding investigations, and omitting the summoning of complainants to provide testimony. The NACC is also accused of failing to investigate allegations of fraudulent transactions or financial trails that had previously been examined by the Constitutional Court.
A significant point of contention is the NACC’s ruling that Mr. Saksayam did not intentionally submit false asset declarations. This ruling reportedly contradicts the findings of the Constitutional Court, despite Mr. Saksayam’s continued status as a shareholder in Burijaroen Construction Limited Partnership.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Mr. Natthaphong expressed confidence in the submitted evidence, stating, “I believe that the evidence we have attached to this petition confirms that there are sufficient grounds for suspicion.” He urged the speaker of parliament to forward the matter to the Supreme Court president to establish an independent investigative panel. “The speaker of parliament should therefore forward the matter to the president of the Supreme Court so that an independent investigative panel can be established to examine the issue as soon as possible,” he added.
The opposition leader also emphasized the expectation that all officials, including the House speaker, independent organizations, and parliamentary representatives, should perform their duties with honesty and integrity. He voiced concerns that some in power might be using their authority to undermine opponents rather than uphold justice. “Those in power may not be using their authority honestly, but rather employing legal power to destroy opponents and protect their own,” Mr. Natthaphong remarked. “Everybody knows what political faction Mr Saksayam and Mr Sophon belong to. Society can see for itself what kind of deliberation the House speaker is going to make in the end.”
Conflict of Interest Allegations
In a related development, Mr. Sathit Wongnongtoey revealed that the Democrat Party had recently filed a complaint with the NACC concerning a potential conflict of interest. “The complaint alleges that a company, which the Constitutional Court ruled belonged to Mr Saksayam, the former transport minister, received contracts from the ministry itself,” he explained. “This constitutes a clear conflict of interest, but the NACC has deliberately neglected to rule on it.”
