Time on their side

To put it another way, the Ferrari man who refuses to answer the accusation of mowing down a police officer joined the front-page accounts of the Watchman who refuses to answer the accusation of corruption and the Construction man who refuses an atom of a shred of blame or shame in the death and odious consumption of one of the nation's rarest animals.This toplofty trio of accused felons aren't alone. But they're this week's obvious examples of two intertwined truths. 1. Laws are for little people, not phu yai including former generals who now are politicians. 2. The system is crafted to be hypocritical.Read the Criminal Code, the constitution and the speeches of the general prime minister. They are one voice. "Rule of law", justice is blind, laws apply to all.Of course it's not a newsflash that All of the Above is nightsoil. Once you get past or get used to the stench, though, there's a certain fascination in watching the hypocrites play it out.The constant used by the privileged is the clock -- more exactly the calendar. Our three examples of the past week each has its own chronometer but the commonality that time is on their side.Europe is Mr Vorayuth's playground, although Vorayuth-spotters have seen him in Luang Prabang and at the Bangkok family compound. His social media photos show he is always with mum Daranee, bro Porsche and sis Champagne. Aiding fugitives on the run is no big deal.It's the privilege that would disgust a lot of people even if he weren't accused of striking and injuring traffic policeman Wichean Glanprasert five and a half years ago, and then, after hitting him, killing him by dragging him under his Ferrari.Now, after less than six months, with no police attempt to encourage his capture abroad, the Red Notice is gone again.Official police spokesman: "Gee! Really? Wow. I have no idea how that could happen. That's up to Interpol."Interpol spokesman: "Either Thailand cancelled the arrest request or they ordered it off the web to keep it secret."Random man on street: "[Libellous comment about high-ranking personalities redacted.]" Every other person contacted by the elite Bangkok Post Sunday research team received identical comments as this one from Randomman.Now, Gen Prawit "Watchman" Wongsuwon. Brother of Pol Gen Patcharawat, former national police chief and accused owner of unexplained wealth, whose corruption case is also not being currently pursued by the NACC. Brothers Prawit and Patcharawat are both former bosses of the man who controls all investigations at the NACC, the four-star junta appointee Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit.Last week, on the exact day Mr Vorayuth's Red Notice was memory-holed, Gen Prawit's fourth final order to account for a million US dollars worth of luxury watches expired. Pol Gen Watcharapol, who by law was required to refer Gen Prawit to police for possible arrest after the second notice expired, wilted.It was the last remnant of remaining fig leaf. Pol Gen Watcharapol promised to keep the public informed of Gen Prawit's case. Last week he showed there's no case at all. You can't prosecute protected species.EDITORIAL: NACC keeps public in the dark'Then there's the man the whole country currently loves to hate, until the next arrogant law-breaker comes along. Premchai "Leopardman" Karnasuta didn't shoot any leopard, he didn't eat any tom yam sua dam, he doesn't own any illegal guns, he would never think of trying to bribe a public official and he absolutely doesn't own any illegal elephant tusks. Perish the thought. Er, thoughts.Why people would hate a completely innocent man who has nothing for which to show remorse is a total mystery to Mr Premchai. As the actress Constance Wu stated in the hit series Fresh Off the Boat last Tuesday: "I would apologise if I had ever been wrong."It's very unlikely that there's anything to the rumour that the large team of lawyers loyal to Italian-Thai Development are shopping for new Mercedes in anticipation of a trial spanning decades. There is certainly no proof Mr Premchai has a special and very superior relationship with a senior policeman who gives him the nation's deepest, most humble wais.Procrastination, obfuscation and prevarication when necessary are the tools of their trade. The only way to beat this game is "never forget". Media and public share the responsibility to keep the cases alive, to try to give Mr Vorayuth, Gen Prawit and Mr Premchai the fair justice that all other Thai citizens are privileged to enjoy.

Time on their side

SEA Games: Vietnam close on 100 gold

Cabinet approves B3.18tn draft budget bill

Ex-monk reports to police to hear embezzlement charge

Cabinet approves B3.18tn draft budget bill

Ex-monk reports to police to hear embezzlement charge

Dual-ballot amendments almost ready for parliament

Teen suicide prompts school probe

Three killed when car rear-ends parked truck