CNAC names 152 officials on graft list
PM to decide next on probes, suspensions
The Centre for National Anti-Corruption (CNAC) has submitted a second list of allegedly corrupt officials to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha so he can consider whether to suspend them alongside 45 others already on inactive duty.
Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) secretary-general Prayong Preeyajit yesterday said the second list of names contains 152 officials suspected of being involved in graft.
They include high-ranking officials such as ministerial permanent secretaries, he said.
The second batch was compiled from lists submitted by graft-busting agencies including the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the AuditorGeneral, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the PACC.
The lists, which were written up following probes into officials’ conduct, are part of a government effort to rid the bureaucracy of corruption.
The next step will be for each ministry to launch internal inquiries and suspend suspects from duty, pending investigations into the allegations of corruption, Mr Prayong said.
The names of those transferred or suspended from duty will be announced in the Royal Gazette, he said.
Mr Prayong, as the CNAC secretary, added that some officials on the second list can be transferred and suspended under the premier’s orders issued under Section 44 of the interim charter, while others can be shifted through internal reshuffles in their ministries.
The suspension order is meant to prevent officials from tampering with evidence during the investigations, Mr Prayong said.
Gen Prayut earlier issued an order under Section 44 of the interim charter to suspend 45 senior officials, pending corruption investigations.
Mr Prayong also said graft-busting agencies will continue to issue lists of allegedly corrupt officials as long as there is evidence implicating them.
Meanwhile, Gen Prayut yesterday presided over the launch of an anti-corruption campaign at Government House, stressing fighting graft is one of his top priorities.
At the event, the prime minister and participants made a vow to fight against corruption.
Although the government has been fully committed to tackling graft, much work remains before it is rooted out, he said.
The premier said the government has stepped up efforts to deal with corruption in state procurement projects, and is trying to curb so-called “grey businesses” in which officials have become involved.
He also stressed the need to stamp out the widespread practice of giving and collecting “convenience fees” or tea money, which is one of the most common forms of corruption.
Gen Prayut urged the public to come forward if they know of officials who are collecting tea money. Complaints can be lodged at the Damrongtham complaints centres nationwide.
“Officials’ lack of conscience has damaged the civil service and made it lose credibility. I am trying to devote my time to restoring confidence in government agencies,” Gen Prayut said.
He also criticised the notion among Thais who regard corruption and cheating as acceptable as long as the ill-gotten gains from such dishonest practices are shared among them.
“The idea that cheating is alright, as long as what you gain from cheating is shared, is to cheat yourself and the country,” he said.
Gen Prayut said that even though the country’s corruption ranking improved last year to 85 out of a total of 175 countries, compared with a ranking of 102 in 2013, the government is still not satisfied and has to do much more to combat graft.