Probes into 2 Thaksin cases nearly done

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will soon wrap up probes into three cases it has revived, two of them involving former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, before submitting them to the Supreme Court, the commission chairman Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said yesterday.

Pol Gen Watcharapol said the cases involve alleged corruption in Exim Bank’s 4-billion-baht loan to Myanmar, the two- and three-digit lottery scheme, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration fire engine and boat scandal involving private firms.

The Exim Bank and lottery cases date back to the Thaksin administration.

The NACC chairman said the commission was gathering evidence to substantiate the cases. When it has gathered enough convincing evidence the agency will ask the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office to consider accepting the cases for retrials.

Pol Gen Watcharapol said this will not take long because the NACC submitted the cases to the court previously.

The NACC has resumed two pending criminal cases against Thaksin under a new organic law that allows for trials of fugitive politicians to be held in absentia.

The Supreme Court suspended the cases under the previous law after he fled the country. The old law stipulated that cases in which suspects cannot be taken to court to give statements will be put on hold.

Addressing calls by the red shirts for the NACC to revive a probe into alleged malfeasance against ex-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban over the 2010 red-shirt protest crackdown, Pol Gen Watcharapol said yesterday the agency would have to consider whether there was new evidence to back the calls for the case to be revived.

The NACC voted unanimously in December 2015 to clear the pair, Pol Gen Watcharapol said.

NACC deputy secretary-general Worawit Sukboon yesterday also commented on a petition submitted by Ruengkrai Leekitwattana of the Pheu Thai Party’s legal team. It asked the anti-graft agency to investigate whether Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Deputy Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong hold shares illegally.

Mr Ruengkrai accused the two ministers of holding more than a 5% stake in companies in violation of the Management of Cabinet Members’ Partnership Stakes and Shares Act.

Mr Worawit said the case is not in the NACC’s jurisdiction.