An amendment bill which would remove the statute of limitations on corruption charges has passed its first reading before the National Legislative Assembly.
The NLA voted 172-5 in favour of the bill, with 10 abstentions, meaning the draft amendment will now head to a 21-member panel for further scrutiny.
The bill would make changes to the legal definitions of foreign government officers and international organisations, effectively granting the National Anti-Corruption Commission more power to pursue corruption cases.
It would also authorise the agency to probe cases in which corruption is carried out overseas, NACC president Panthep Klanarongran said. The bill complies with the UN Convention Against Corruption, he added.
The amendment would also strip away the statute of limitations, granted in Section 98 of the Criminal Code, for those convicted of offering or receiving bribes, and allow for the seizure of any cash or assets that were given as bribes.
More sections involving the scrutiny of assets and liabilities will be added to the bill, Mr Panthep said.
He said the amendment bill is in line with the ideas for reform under the 2014 interim charter, and would bolster efforts to tackle corruption in the state and private sectors.
NLA member Jet Siratharanont, however, voiced concerns that the NACC's efforts to push the bill would be seen as politically motivated, as the anti-graft agency pursues cases against ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several of her former colleagues.
He also raised doubts about the NACC's ability to pursue cases against graft suspects who fled to countries which are not signatories to the UN corruption convention.
The Constitution Drafting Committee had said last month it was also concerned about whether the bill was in line with the charter, and urged it to be shelved.
The CDC's concerns stemmed from seven sections of the amendment that seek to increase the NACC’s power. One of the seven sections authorises NACC investigators to search premises.
The draft was put forward by the NACC last year without prior examination by the cabinet or its legal adviser, the Council of State.
Mr Panthep said the NACC is the key agency in preventing and thwarting corruption committed both domestically and overseas, and that to deal with graft happening abroad needed special laws.
He said the amendment bill would boost the effectiveness of the anti-graft agency, which also works with the Office of the Attorney-General in handling corruption cases.
The draft amendment has 28 sections. Other proposed changes include a lifetime ban for politicians who fail to declare their assets.