The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) continues to withhold material connected to the expensive watch scandal involving interim Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
The Supreme Administrative Court has ordered the NACC to explain all of the facts that it relied on to clear Gen. Prawit of failing to report all of his assets.
However, the anti-graft authority aims to appeal the judgment since complete disclosure could jeopardize the safety of witnesses and deter witnesses in other cases, according to NACC Secretary-General Niwatichai Kasemmongkol on Thursday.
He promised to explain himself to activist Veera Somkwamkid, who had previously demanded details about the matter.
Mr Veera stated that after seeing Mr Niwatichai, he was given only data acquired from the investigation and minutes of NACC sessions pertaining to the matter. He was not given the views of the NACC personnel who handled the matter.
Mr Veera stated that the NACC secretary-general withheld the facts due to the requirement for witness protection.
Mr Niwatichai ascribed the partially censored materials he received to a NACC decision, according to Mr Veera.
According to the activist, the NACC and its secretary-general will be held accountable for disregarding the court’s ruling.
Previously, Mr Veera petitioned the Central Administrative Court for the publication of the probe after the NACC dismissed the case against Gen Prawit in December 2018.
The commission concluded 5:3 that there was no basis for Gen Prawit’s false declaration of wealth because he did not include 22 luxury watches and jewelry in his list of assets.
The probe was begun not long after Gen Prawit was photographed wearing a platinum Richard Mille RM 029 wristwatch and a diamond ring at a Government House event on December 4, 2017.
These goods, as well as other timepieces discovered subsequently, were omitted from Gen Prawit’s asset disclosure to the NACC.
The costly watches, according to Gen Prawit, belonged to a friend who had since died and had all been returned.
The NACC possesses three sets of papers relating to the case, two of which have been revealed. The third group includes NACC officials’ perspectives.
Mr Veera previously stated that he wanted to ask the new administration how legislation may be amended to make the NACC a truly independent institution that is open to inspection and transparent, in keeping with the NACC’s ethos.
