Legal data at the touch of a screen

>> The Legal Execution Department is planning to debut its new mobile phone application on Aug 1, allowing people in civil cases to easily check information on money and asset issues central to their legal conflicts.

With a few touches of a screen, they can inspect the amount of money, debts and other information related to their cases.

“This will be faster than phoning department officials to ask for the information,” department chief Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol said.

The app will be on the Android platform.

The department is also preparing to auction off confiscated gemstones worth more than 316 million baht to foreigners after getting a lukewarm response from domestic buyers.

In the first two auctions, prospective buyers showed only interest but offered no bids, Ms Ruenvadee said.

She hopes to solve the sluggish sale of 24 precious stones by seeking new buyers, especially from neighbouring countries. Her department aims to hook gemstone business associations in Malaysia and Singapore.

The next sale is due to take place next Saturday. If no bidders buy the items, more rounds will be held on Aug 19, Sept 9 and 30 and Oct 21 and 23.

The gemstones, including black sapphires, turquoise, amethysts, rubies and green and yellow sapphires, had been seized from Paragon Precious Stones Co in a case brought by the Thai Asset Management Corporation.

In previous auctions, officials set a condition that all stones must be sold off in one lot. Participants are required to lay at least 16 million baht down as surety.

The department is also devising ways to better handle thousands of cases more quickly. Up to 12,900 cases have dragged on for 10 years, Ms Ruenvadee said.