National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) president Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit faces a tough test to prove he and the anti-graft agency will handle the case involving Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, his former boss, without fear or favour.
Pol Gen Watcharapol was selected as the new president of the anti-graft body on Dec 15, 2015 amid accusations he won the post with the backing of the regime.
He shrugged off the criticism that his selection as NACC president had something to do with his connection to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), particularly Gen Prawit.
Pol Gen Watcharapol 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 May 2014 coup, Pol Gen Watcharapol was appointed secretary-general handling political affairs for Gen Prawit who became deputy prime minister. After being selected later as NACC president, Pol Gen Watcharapol assured the public that the NACC would be independent and transparent under his presidency, saying the NACC welcomed any attempt by the media to hold it accountable.
“As for allegations the NCPO backed me in the NACC presidency race, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The selection process proceeded properly.
“Members of the selection committee were all qualified with knowledge and experience. You’d better wait and see our performance,” Pol Gen Watcharapol said.
At that time, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha dismissed talk that Pol Col Watcharapol became NACC president because of his ties to Gen Prawit.
Responding to criticism at the time surrounding his close ties to the Wongsuwon family and claims that he might show bias in their favour if a case involving them was brought before the NACC, Pol Gen Watcharapol said: I can’t help it. It’s normal.
“It may be a weakness of my life [that I have close ties to the family] and I have no choice. But my actions will prove things.”
Now is the time for him to prove what he says, critics say, perhaps by excusing himself from debates about Gen Prawit.
Gen Prawit is under NACC scrutiny for allegedly failing to declare all his assets after pictures of his luxury watch and diamond ring emerged which were not included in his previous asset declaration.
Mana Nimitmongkol, secretary-general of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, said Thursday that the issue of conflict of interest has been a public concern for a long time.
“The authorities involved have things to consider.
“People should opt out of being in the meeting room when the committee is investigating someone where there is a clear conflict of interest issue,” he said.
Otherwise, people will have doubts in the agency’s investigation and integrity.
Not only does Pol Gen Watcharapol have to prove his impartiality in Gen Prawit’s case but so do the four other NACC commissioners appointed by the coup-installed government, critics say.