Opposition alleges NACC misconduct

Opposition MPs and allies submitted a petition seeking a Supreme Court-led inquiry into the National Anti-Corruption Commission's (NACC) dismissal of a concealed shareholding complaint involving former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob.

Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, deputy Democrat Party leader Sathit Wongnongtoey and Senator Nantana Nantavaropas held a press briefing on the petition on Friday.

Mr Natthaphong said his party, the People's Party (PP), submitted the evidence alongside the petition to the House speaker, Sophon Zarum, who will determine if there are enough grounds to pass it on to the Supreme Court president to launch a probe into the NACC.

Mr Natthaphong said the petition contains four main accusations against the NACC, namely that the agency used improper investigative processes, made clear and erroneous decisions, intentionally concealed information, lacked transparency, and intentionally neglected to investigate other related offences.

Further details of these accusations include the NACC failing to conduct a thorough examination of assets and liabilities, neglecting a complete fact-finding investigation, failing to summon the complainant to give testimony, and failing to investigate allegations of fraudulent transactions or financial trails, as previously investigated by the Constitutional Court.

The petition also stated that the NACC ruled that Mr Saksayam did not intentionally submit false asset declarations, contradicting the Constitutional Court's investigation and ruling, even though he remained a shareholder in Burijaroen Construction Limited Partnership.

"I believe that the evidence we have attached to this petition confirms that there are sufficient grounds for suspicion," said Mr Natthaphong. "The speaker of parliament should therefore forward the matter to the president of the Supreme Court so that an independent investigative panel can be established to examine the issue as soon as possible."

He also added that there is an expectation that the House speaker, independent organisations, and representatives of the people in parliament perform their duties honestly and straightforwardly.

"Those in power may not be using their authority honestly, but rather employing legal power to destroy opponents and protect their own," said the opposition leader. "Everybody knows what political faction Mr Saksayam and Mr Sophon belong to. Society can see for itself what kind of deliberation the House speaker is going to make in the end."

Mr Sathit also said that last week, the Democrat Party filed a complaint with the NACC after discovering a conflict of interest.

"The complaint alleges that a company, which the Constitutional Court ruled belonged to Mr Saksayam, the former transport minister, received contracts from the ministry itself," he said. "This constitutes a clear conflict of interest, but the NACC has deliberately neglected to rule on it."