Look at DPM’s luxury watch and ring, Thai anti-graft body told

The National AntiCorruption Commission (NACC) has to prove its neutrality and its professionalism as it sifts the facts behind Prawit Wongsuwan’s disturbing possession of luxury trinkets far beyond the reach of his dual salary as deputy prime minister and defence minister, The Nation newspaper said in an editorial.

Mishandling this matter would not just undermine its own credibility – it would render farcical the ruling junta’s stated mission of ending corruption in the name of national reform.

The posh glint of Prawit’s wristwatch and diamond ring couldn’t fail to catch the public’s eye in photos of the newly reshuffled Cabinet last week.

It was readily acknowledged that he has every right to flaunt his wealth, as rich people are wont to do. The problem is that Prawit failed to mention these luxury goods in the declaration of assets required of all political officeholders.

If he obtained them after taking office, and since he cannot afford them on his salary or based on his declared level of wealth, his possession of them implies that something untoward has occurred.

It places the junta’s “Brother No 2” in a tricky position, because he gained his lofty position on the back of a military coup aimed at ending widespread corruption in politics.

If the public is suspicious of Prawit, it is also dubious about the NACC’s readiness to dig into the affair.

All of its members owe their postings to the junta, and its director, Police- General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, previously worked on General Prawit’s staff.

Shortly after the coup in May 2014, he rose from deputy police chief to acting police chief, then was named to the National Legislative Assembly, and then was deputy secretary general to the prime minister under Prawit’s purview. — The Nation/Asia News Network