The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will decide whether to try and indict Yingluck Shinawatra over the rice-pledging scheme next month, after a joint panel failed to reach a conclusion on the issue.
National Anti-Corrruption Commission (NACC) chairman Parnthep Klanarongran, centre, together with other NACC members, explain how the anti-graft body works and take questions from reporters at a press conference to mark the 8th anniversary of its establishment Tuesday. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) last month refused an NACC recommendation to indict the former premier in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
Instead, the OAG called for a joint panel to re-investigate the case, saying the NACC's probe was incomplete.
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But the panel of NACC members and public prosecutors, which started work on Sept 9, has been unable to finish its investigation within the 14-day deadline it was set.
NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun said the panel could not come to a conclusion on the matter even though the NACC has been "flexible" about the 14-day time frame.
Official logo of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
He said the NACC will decide what action to take on Nov 7, to stop the case dragging out further. He said the agency has the authority to submit the case to the court by itself, if the joint panel cannot reach a conclusion.
The commission has said it believes there are sufficient grounds to allegations that Ms Yingluck was negligent in failing to solve corruption and losses in the rice-pledging scheme.
The anti-graft agency, meanwhile, marked its 8th anniversary yesterday by hosting a press conference on its achievements.
NACC chairman Parnthep Klanarongran said the anti-graft body has handled a total of 34,528 corruption cases since its inception. Of these, 25,012 cases have been closed, while 9,516 are still under investigation.
A total of 20,641 cases involve bribery, embezzlement and document forgery, while 11,314 cases are linked with malfeasance and dereliction of duty, Mr Parnthep said.
He said the number of cases submitted to the NACC has increased by about 3,000 each year.
Mr Vicha said corruption cases involving local administrative organisations have accounted for half of all state corruption cases over the past eight years.
Other state agencies facing corruption complaints include the Interior Ministry, the Land Department, the Royal Thai Police, the Education Ministry, and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, Mr Vicha said.