While the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is probing Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon over his luxury watch scandal, some politicians once indicted by the anti-graft body for false asset declarations are unconvinced the regime's No.2 man will face the same fate as they did.
One of the anti-graft agency's core duties is to examine the assets and liabilities declared by high-ranking state officers as well as local and national politicians in power. Scores of politicians have been netted by the NACC for submitting false asset lists in past years.
High-profile politicians who have been indicted by the NACC in relation to asset declarations include the late Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, former Education Minister Somsak Prissananantakul, former Public Health Minister Rakkiat Sukthana, ex-deputy Interior Minister Sombat Uthaisang, former Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiya-pairat, former Commerce Minister Chaiya Sasomsap as well as former permanent secretary for transport Supoj Saplom.
Former MPs scuppered by the anti-graft body include Jamras Wiangsong and Nudaeng Wankangsai, both from Buri Ram, and Kasem Nimmolrat from Chiang Mai. They are all from the Pheu Thai Party. In the rival Democrat camp, former MP for Nakhon Sawan, Somkuan Ob-orm, was also indicted.
However, all eyes now are on how the incumbent NACC will rule on Gen Prawit's case.
Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, the NACC's president, was chosen to take the helm of the anti-graft agency on Dec 15, 2015 amid accusations he won the post with the backing of the regime.
It is reported he was a close aide of Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon, younger brother of Gen Prawit, when Pol Gen Patcharawat served as the police chief. After the 2014 coup, Pol Gen Watcharapol was also appointed secretary-general handling political affairs for Gen Prawit, who became the deputy prime minister at that time.
Mr Somsak, and Mr Jamras, below, want an honest probe.
Pol Gen Watcharapol says he is not worried about perceptions of partiality in the probe into Gen Prawit because he is working under the NACC's law.
Mr Somsak, from the Chartthaipattana Party, was found to be unusually rich in 2015. The NACC found he intended to falsely declare his assets while he was serving as a member of cabinet between November 1997 and February 2001. He said he is not hopeful of a strong result from the incumbent anti-graft agency.
He said ruling figures wield absolute power and also have the powerful Section 44 in hand, which means politics is not a normal setting.
Questions have to be raised why several independent organisations had their members removed and replaced, under the so-called "reset" measure, based on organic laws linked to them, but this does not apply to the incumbent NACC, Mr Somsak said.
"The patronage system still prevails in society and that is the reason why some things fail to go in line with people's expectations," Mr Somsak said.
"To what extent can we pin our hope on the NACC's work? I cannot say so clearly, but I don't think we hope that much," said Mr Somsak.
"Time will tell as to whether the patronage system is still powerful."
Mr Somsak also had his 16-million-baht house in Ang Thong's Wiset Chai Chan district seized after he failed to properly verify where he obtained the money to buy the property, based on a Supreme Court ruling in 2016. He noted his punishment also came during an unusual time in politics.
The ex-education minister stressed the NACC must stand ready to explain its work to ward off scepticism about the agency. The anti-graft body, he noted, must prove itself as to whether it would adhere to the merit or patronage system in regard to Gen Prawit's case.
Referring to the probe into Gen Prawit's case, Mr Jamras said the NACC is likely to buy time until the current government leaves.
Gen Prawit has taken flak for owning a large collection of luxury watches and not declaring them among his assets, sparking concern about how he was able to afford them on his military salary. The deputy premier said last week he borrowed the timepieces from friends and only wore them sporadically. The watches have since been returned to their owners, he claimed. He has been spotted wearing at least 25 luxury watches.
Mr Jamras said Gen Prawit's claim that he borrowed the watches is likely to be a way out recommended by others, which would put an end to the case. This is because if Gen Prawit said he bought the watches himself, he will need to explain where the money came from, according to Mr Jamras.
If the deputy prime minister said the watches were given to him by others, he could be found guilty of a rule which bars the holders of political positions from receiving gifts worth more than 3,000 baht.
"The NACC must come to terms with the phrase 'borrowing them from others'," said Mr Jamras.
Mr Jamras was earlier indicted by the NACC for submitting a false asset declaration. He admitted to the wrongdoing, saying he failed to list his motorcycle in the asset declaration because at that time the bike had not yet been transferred to him after its purchase.
He explained he had no intention of concealing the asset, but the NACC did not care. "As for the incumbent NACC, I pin no hopes on it,'' Mr Jamras said. He noted the anti-graft commissioners eventually could be purged by the Constitutional Court on the ground they are unqualified for the job.
The organic bill on the anti-graft agency enables all nine members of the NACC to retain their position despite arguments the qualifications of some members fall short of those set down in the 2017 constitution.
Mr Jamras said Gen Prawit may take a relaxed attitude to the claims.
"He may say that he came from the coup and stepped in to solve the country's problems and conflicts. Accordingly, there is no need for him to show spirit," Mr Jamras noted.