NACC pushes for govt support tackling graft

NACC chairman Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said major cases that affected the public should be conducted by a team of relevant officials, not only NACC officials.

For instance, investigations into corruption regarding land encroachment or natural resources should include officials from the Royal Forestry Department, the Natural Resources Department and the Department of Special Investigation, Watcharapol said.

The NACC is also asking Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke Article 44 of the interim charter, which gives him sweeping emergency powers, to quickly amend anti-graft laws.

The agency wants the law changed so that 800 newly recruited officials who are in training can take over graft investigations to expedite the prosecution of corrupt individuals.

He said new officials would only investigate less important cases under the supervision of experienced investigators. The NACC’s nine members will also review all cases.

Watcharapol said the NACC was drafting national strategies on anti-graft measures stressing prevention and educating the public. That would be completed in September before it goes to Cabinet for funding.

He said the agency received only or Bt1.8 billion, or 0.067 per cent of the government’s total budget. He urged the government to increase funding to 0.1 or 0.15 per cent of total budget.

Watcharapol expected the government would allocate Bt2.2 billion for the agency in next fiscal year.

“Over the next five years, more investors will come to invest in our country due to less corruption,’’ he said.

He said a survey by the Thai Chamber of Commerce found that damage to the private sector from having to pay bribes to state officials dropped to 15 per cent of operating costs last year, or Bt170 billion per year. The figure had reached 30 per cent in previous years. A reduction of 1 per cent would mean a Bt10 billion drop in bribes.

Under anti-graft strategies, the NACC aims to increase Thailand’s score on the Corruption Perception Index from 38 in 2015 to 50 next year.

Watcharapol also said he opposed the death sentence for corruption, as it would not yield positive results.