The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has pledged to finish its probes into all politically-connected cases by 2021.
The pledge was relayed by NACC chairman Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit at a meeting between the NACC and journalists at his office on Thursday.
Pol Gen Watcharapol said NACC members Supa Piyajitti and Boonyavat Kruahongs had been assigned to look into politically-linked cases and those that concern members of independent bodies.
However, a panel consisting of all nine NACC members will be formed to deliberate on major cases, he said.
According to the NACC chairman, some cases contain many specific details that take a long time to investigate, which leads to delays. "That said, I affirm our commitment that all probes will be wrapped up by 2021," said Pol Gen Watcharapol. The NACC is duty-bound to streamline its regulations to adhere to the organic law on corruption, which was enforced on July 22 last year, he added.
On Dec 9, the anti-graft body proceeded with an organisational restructuring that allows it to react faster to changing trends in criminal behaviour by decentralising power to local offices, he said.
This was done to ensure complaints from the provinces are taken into consideration quicker, Pol Gen Watcharapol said. The law also requires the NACC and prosecutors to wrap up their investigations within two years, he said.
According to Pol Gen Watcharapol, prosecutors, after receiving the investigation reports from the NACC, are obliged to vet them within 180 days. If prosecutors consider the reports incomplete, they must report to the NACC within 90 days. Failing to complete the processes within the specified time frame could land involved officers in trouble, as they could be deemed negligent in their duty, he added.
However, the NACC chief admitted his officers are concerned about the specified time limitation, considering the number of cases that need to be resolved in a timely manner.
"The agency is coping with a backlog of 13,000 cases," he said.
Pol Gen Watcharapol also said the time constraints would affect investigations into cases that require cooperation from international organisations or another state, such as in cases of foreigners bribing Thai officials.