Outcry builds for NLA asset probe

Outcry builds for NLA asset probe

Rosana encourages tip-offs from public

A leading member of the National Reform Council (NRC) threw her support behind the anti-graft agency's proposal Monday to invite public input on investigating the assets of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members.

Rosana Tositrakul said she agreed with National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) secretary-general Sansern Poljiak's suggestion that members of the public should come forward if they have information about the sources of suspicious assets.

Last week, the net worth of NLA members was posted on the NACC's website.

She went further, saying the NACC should offer cash rewards to informants for tip-offs that help it identify any dubious origins of wealth held by government officials, at all levels, who refuse to clarify their income sources.

Over the past several years, corruption has spread rapidly, creating a need for a stricter scrutiny process, she said.

Ms Rosana also urged authorities to scrap the 1,000-baht banknote.

She said politicians who have records of buying votes often keep cash at home, resulting in low circulation of Thailand's highest banknote.

Scrapping the note value would discourage politicians from hoarding cash or keeping it with trusted associates.

Mr Sansern on Monday urged anyone who notices irregularities in the assets-and-liabilities disclosure of the 195 NLA members to lodge complaints with the NACC to initiate an investigation.

Concerns arose after several NLA members disclosed their assets and debts, as required by the constitution, revealing that several state officials have net assets worth more than 100 million baht each.

Among them, Defence Ministry permanent secretary Gen Sirichai Ditakul has assets worth 108 million baht.

Deputy national police chief Gen Jakthip Chaijinda has 97.4 million baht in assets and his wife has 870.9 million baht in assets. With 6.3 million baht in liabilities, the couple's net worth is 962 million baht.

National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang has 246.4 million baht in assets and his wife has 128.2 million baht in assets, with a net worth of 355.8 million.

First Region Army commander Lt Gen Kampanat Ruddit has 99.8 million baht in net assets. Assistant army chief Lt Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha, who is the younger brother of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has 79.8 million baht in net assets.

Mr Sansern said the NACC has yet to take a closer look into the assets of the NLA members.

"Some state officials have vast amounts of assets. It is possible they have inherited the wealth. The NACC hasn't examined how they have obtained it," Mr Sansern said.

Worawit Sukboon, the NACC's deputy secretary-general, said the agency will first verify the list of assets and debts.

It will order in-depth inquiries into those deemed "unusually rich".

The Pheu Thai Party, however, has already asked the State Audit Commission (SAC) to investigate some NLA members.

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a member of Pheu Thai's legal team, said he has petitioned the (SAC) chairman to investigate some NLA members' tax payments. The members appear to have more assets than could possibly be obtained from their salaries as workers in government offices and state agencies.

If they are found to have amassed their wealth improperly, they would face punishment, he said. Waiting for the findings of an NACC probe might not be enough, Mr Ruangkrai said.

Because the NLA members were political office-holders, the SAC must investigate their assets. The audit commission has the authority to investigate under Section 49 of the Revenue Code, said Mr Ruangkrai.

An investigation might reveal that these office-holders owe more tax money, which would benefit the government, Mr Ruangkrai said. And it would also help prevent acts of corruption involving politicians and government officials.

Such an investigation would be fairly simple. He said the commission should seek out the tax payment records of the NLA members from the Revenue Department. It could then compare those with the asset declarations they submitted to the NACC.

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