The fast-breaking story of how two former policemen got into positions to affect their own corruption investigations must be reversed. If the senior controllers of the junta's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) are unable to see the problem with these appointments, then those above them must act. There are many questions about how this scandal even was allowed to develop. The urgent obligation, however, is to cancel the appointments of the two men to a scrutiny committee or accept their belated resignation.
The former police officers are ex-police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon and Pol Lt Gen Boonrueng Polpanich. They are under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for accumulating unusual amounts of wealth. Late last week, the two men were appointed to an NLA committee assigned to study an organic law on the NACC. Why this obvious conflict of interest was ignored by both NLA members and the two ex-policemen is one of the compelling questions.
Opposition and outrage about these incredible missteps are pretty well universal. The secretary-general of the business-supported Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, Mana Nimitmongkol, said they are clearly "tainted with conflict of interest". Samart Kaewmeechai of Pheu Thai said the participation of the two men in the NLA's work raises moral questions. Weekend media opeds and editorial were scathing, describing the appointments as a negative reflection on the anti-corruption statements of even Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
One must really wonder, then, just where the chairman of the scrutiny committee himself has put common sense. Chatchawal Suksomjit, who welcomed the appointments to his committee, says they cannot undermine his group's credibility. It therefore comes as no surprise to note he is also a retired police general. But this "old boys' club" should never have been formed and must not be allowed to survive.
Pol Gen Chatchawal may be loyal to his old friends from the force. His duties, however, must come first. His oath of office was not to the police force, or even to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). It is to the nation. Pol Gen Chatchawal's sworn duty, then, is to recognise the obvious problems with putting two tainted policemen in charge of the fate of the body that is already investigating them.
This is not a close call. The conflict of interest is obvious, because it is extreme. The old sayings about putting the fox in charge of the hen house, or appointing the wolf to watch the sheep, directly apply here.
There is a very obvious and urgent case for intervention in this blatant miscarriage of public trust. If Pol Gen Patcharawat and Pol Lt Gen Boonrueng refuse to show their spirit promptly, then committee chairman Pol Gen Chatchawal must help them to leave. Should the NLA member remain stubborn, then the NLA leadership or the junta itself will have to step in to restore public trust by removing the two appointees.
The argument made in favour of these misguided appointments is that Pol Gen Patcharawat and Pol Lt Gen Boonrueng are innocent until proved guilty. Indeed they are. They have the expectation of fair and objective investigation of their cases. As policemen, they are supposed to know even better than the public that they also have no right at all to approach investigators, let alone try to sway, intimidate or interfere with that probe of their alleged wrongdoing.
This case, if not dealt with quickly and abruptly, could easily escalate into a full-blown scandal for the junta and its commander, Prime Minister Prayut. The public and media already have judged it as a potential and important misjudgement. There is time to fix this, but it is rapidly running out.