Watchdog being watched
The Thai-language CSI LA Facebook page had revealed 25 luxury watches adorning the wrist of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon as of Wednesday, worth an estimated 39.5 million baht.
The latest was identified as a steeply priced Patek Philippe, Complications Annual Calendar.
The general’s extensive luxury watch collection comprises 11 Rolexes, eight Patek Philippes, three Richard Milles, two Audemars Pigues and one A. Lange & Sohne.
A social media frenzy has flared since the deputy prime minister was shown wearing a platinum Richard Mille RM 029, valued at about 2.5 million baht and a diamond ring at a Government House event late last year.
It turned out these items and the other watches which came to light later were not included in his assets declaration submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
Gen Prawit’s reaction was that he was not a collector and that the watches were all borrowed and have all since been returned to their rightful owners.
“Let the NACC investigate and if the agency says I am in the wrong, I will resign [as deputy prime minister]. And there is no need to worry about any interference in the investigation. The NACC is a massive agency and they have a due process to follow,” he was quoted as saying.
But his words barely quietened his critics. Even though the NACC is investigating the scandal, critics are sceptical about whether the anti-graft agency can maintain its independence given the close connections between its president, Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, and Gen Prawit.
Pol Gen Watcharapol was named NACC president in late 2015 amid accusations that he won the post with the backing of the military regime and “big brother” Gen Prawit.
The NACC has been quiet on the controversy, critics have noted, which has turned up pressure on the agency. It has taken flak for being slow to move the investigation forward.
The commission has previously called for patience from the media. The more watches are found, the more time it needs to collect evidence, it claims.
NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon described the case as being “not complicated” and said the NACC would not take long to wrap it up.
Mr Worawit also asked the media to wait until early next month before quizzing it on the results of the probe.
The coup-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) recently passed an organic bill allowing incumbent NACC members to stay in power despite possibly violating the charter.
There are concerns as to whether the qualifications of some NACC members have fallen short of those required by the new constitution, which has introduced the “reset” principle where under-qualified members of independent agencies are to be shown the door. Efforts are under way to have the controversial issue settled by the Constitutional Court.
Critics charged that the incumbent NACC members, including those with qualification issues, are being allowed to stay on as though to make certain anti-graft allegations “disappear”.
But an NACC member said the probe is trying to determine if there are legal grounds to support the allegation that Gen Prawit may be the true owner of the watches.
The deputy prime minister has publicly claimed the watches belonged to his friends. Based on the statement, the NACC will summon the alleged lenders of the luxury watches for questioning and they will be required to show proof of ownership as well as tax records.
“The scrutiny will proceed and there will be no exceptions. Gen Prawit will be probed the same as others are,” said the NACC member.
As the commission continues to take its time with the investigation, the high level of public scrutiny is no doubt set to continue.