THE Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases today (May 27) sentenced a former chairman and a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to three years’ imprisonment each for concealing investigation documents regarding Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan’s possession of luxury watches upon assuming the position of acting prime minister, Naewna newspaper and PPTVHD36 said.
The case against Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, NACC’s former chairman, and Ms. Supa Piyachitti, the graft agency’s former commissioner, was filed by Mr. Vera Somkwamkid, secretary-general of the People’s Network Against Corruption.
Both the defendants have been granted bail to fight the case in the appeal court.
Previously, Vera filed a lawsuit against 12 NACC executives and aside from Pol. Gen. Watcharapol and Supa they are as follows: 1/ Mr. Niwatichai Kasemmongkol, former NACC secretary-general; 2/ Mr. Worawit Sukboon, former NACC secretary-general; 3/ Mr. Preecha Lertkamolmas; 4/ Pol. Gen. Sathaporn Laothong; 5/ Mr. Narong Rattamarit; 6/ Mr. Wittaya Akompithak; 7/ Ms. Suwana Suwannajuda; 8/ Gen. Boonyawat Kreuhong; 9/ Mr. Nattachak Patmasin Na Ayutthaya; and 10/ Mr. Suchart Trakulkesemsuk.
The lawsuit alleges that all 12 were involved in concealing documents regarding Gen. Prawit’s ownership of luxury watches upon briefly assuming the position of acting prime minister in 2022, after former coup leader-turned-prime minister Gen.Prayut Chan-o-cha was briefly suspended from carrying out his duties by the Constitutional Court while ruling on whether he had exceeded the constitutional term limit for the office of prime minister. The Constitutional Court later ruled that Prayut had not exceeded his term limit and could continue to serve as prime minister.
Vera had gradually withdrawn his lawsuits against all the defendants, except for Pol. Gen. Watcharapol and Ms. Supa.
Vera, as the plaintiff, stated in his complaint that the defendants, as government officials, had a duty to comply with the court’s ruling. Their negligence and intentional violation of the court’s ruling constituted unlawful performance or omission of duty.
The defendants allegedly provided the plaintiff with several pages obscured with black tape, and also provided several pages without text, thus omitting essential information. Furthermore, the defendants failed to provide the plaintiff with item 2, the opinions of all NACC officials responsible for the allegations, preventing the plaintiff from understanding the crucial content of the documents and causing damage. Therefore, the defendants’ actions constituted multiple offenses under the law.
CAPTION:
Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit,left, and Ms. Supa Piyachitti, right. Above photo – PPTVHD36, Front Page – Naewna
First insert – In this file photo Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan covers his eyes, displaying the watch he was wearing, while photos were taken of new cabinet members in Dec. 2017. Credit: Thai Rath
Second insert – Political activist Vera Somkwamkid. Photos: Thai Rath
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