Promotion list a disgrace
Athapol Yaisawang, head of the Department of the Public Prosecutor Commission, found it hard to hide his frustration after learning that the names of two senior public prosecutors who were to receive royal endorsement before taking new positions were withdrawn. The two prosecutors are none other than Nate Naksuk, deputy attorney-general, and Poramet Intarachumnum, chief of the Thon Buri Litigation Department. It’s understood that their names were dropped because both are under investigation — the former for his controversial decision to drop charges against Red Bull scion Vorayuth Yoovidhya in the 2012 notorious hit-and-run case; the latter, ironically for hit and run, driving under the influence and causing damage to others’ property.
According to a report over the weekend by Isra News Agency, Mr Athapol was enormously upset that he was not informed that the two officials were dropped from the list scheduled for the palace, as the Office of the Privy Council is still waiting for the result of the probes against the two. Mr Athaphol, the report said, was deeply insulted by the blatant act which means no one attaches importance to his agency.
The department has called an urgent meeting later this month to discuss the matter, as such withdrawals are unprecedented.
However, Mr Athapol should also realise that submitting officials facing a probe for royal endorsement is not only unprecedented but also improper. It calls into question the judgement of those who proposed it. Instead of venting his anger, what he has to do is to show remorse and offer apologies, especially in light of Mr Nate’s new assignment despite all the controversy he caused with regard to the scion hit-and-run case. His decision to let Vorayuth off the hook from the charge of reckless driving causing death was based on dubious “new evidence’’ — including a correction on the speed at the time of the crash, which was based on claims by new witnesses who seemed to have turned up from nowhere.
In August last year, Mr Nate tendered his resignation over the controversy. He said in his letter — which was not approved — he thought it best to go to protect the image of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).
His conundrum also showed everyone how the OAG has, again, failed to meet public expectations.
After Mr Nate’s decision to drop the manslaughter charge was revealed, the OAG’s fact-finding team initially cleared him of any wrongdoing, which meant the office also bought the new evidence.
That intensified the public outcry so much, the government had to step in. Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha appointed former National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Vicha Mahakhun to lead a panel to probe the mess the OAG made. With public pressure mounting, the OAG and the Royal Thai Police separately set up panels to probe the debacle.
In October, the Vicha panel produced a historic 6,000page report, which found evidence of intervention by officials, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, lawyers and witnesses, showing money trails linked to the culprit. It urged the government to revive the hit-and-run case and carry out judicial reforms to revive public trust.
The sad fact is the panel’s recommendations have not been followed. The probe by the OAG and police have not lead to anything.
The OAG, as well as the RTP, owe the public an explanation as to why it took such a long time to complete the investigation. They must show their progress, if any — and if not, give good reasons why this is so.