Graft-busters refuse to turn over Prawit watch details

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon shields his eyes from the sun at a gathering of cabinet ministers in December 2017. The gesture exposed an expensive watch that brought him unwanted attention. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon shields his eyes from the sun at a gathering of cabinet ministers in December 2017. The gesture exposed an expensive watch that brought him unwanted attention. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is still refusing to reveal some information related to the luxury watch controversy concerning Prawit Wongsuwon.

The Supreme Administrative Court has given the NACC until Friday to disclose all the facts that it used to support its decision to clear Gen Prawit of failing to declare all his assets.

However, the anti-graft body said complete disclosure could compromise the safety of witnesses, the NACC secretary-general said on Thursday

He said he would give an explanation to activist Veera Somkwamkid, who earlier demanded the information disclosure in the case.

After meeting the NACC, Mr Veera said he was given only facts gathered from the investigation and minutes of NACC meetings concerning the case.

The NACC secretary-general gave the need for witness protection as a reason for withholding the details, Mr Veera said.

The documents he received were partly redacted.

The activist said the NACC and its secretary-general would have to take responsibility for disobeying the court’s order.

Earlier Mr Veera filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court demanding disclosure of the investigation following the NACC’s dismissal of the complaint against Gen Prawit in December 2018.

The commission ruled  that there were no grounds for the accusation that Gen Prawit had falsely declared his wealth when he did not include 22 luxury watches and rings in his list of assets.

The investigation was launched not long after Gen Prawit was spotted wearing a platinum Richard Mille RM 029 wristwatch valued at about 2.5 million baht and a diamond ring at a Government House event on Dec 4, 2017.

These items and other watches that came to light later were not included in Gen Prawit’s asset declaration to the NACC.

Gen Prawit claimed the luxury watches belonged to a friend, who had since died, and had all been returned.

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Vocabulary

  • accusation: a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved - ข้อกล่าวหา
  • activist: someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation - นักกิจกรรม
  • asset: something owned by a person, company etc., particularly money and property - ทรัพย์สิน
  • declare: to tell the tax authorities or other government agency how much money or other assets you have or have have earned - แจ้ง, เปิดเผย
  • disclose: to give information to people - เปิดเผย
  • disclosure: information or a fact that is made known or public that was previously secret or private - การเปิดเผย
  • dismissal: a decision by a judge that a court case should not continue - การยกฟ้อ
  • disobey: to refuse to do what a person, law, order, etc. tells you to do; to refuse to obey - ไม่เชื่อฟัง
  • graft: corruption - การฉ้อโกง
  • graft busters (noun): an informal term used for the National Anti-Corruption Commission - ปปช. (สำนักคณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชาติ)
  • grounds for: reasons for something for happen, for some decision -
  • minutes: a summary or record of what is said or decided at a formal meeting - รายงานการประชุม
  • protection: the act of protecting somebody/something; the state of being protected - การอารักขา, การปกป้อง
  • redacted (adj): having had information removed from a document because you do not want the public to see it; censored - ถูกแก้ไข, ถูกตัดข้อมูลออก
  • secretary-general (noun): the person who is in charge of the department that deals with the running of a large international or political organisation - เลขาธิการ, เลขาธิการใหญ่
  • Supreme Administrative Court (noun): the highest court which deals with disputes between the private sector and government agencies - ศาลปกครองสูงสุด
  • witness: a person who sees something happen - ผู้ที่เห็นเหตุการณ์
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