A Supreme Court decision to launch an independent probe into a gold-bar bribery claim is more than just the due process of law.
It is the first time the Supreme Court has launched an inquiry against a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), an independent body under the constitution. The court-mandated probe speaks volumes: even the omnipotent corruption-buster cannot evade accountability.
The outcome will show how well our checks-and-balances system works. The Supreme Court is deemed the court of last resort to which everyone turns when they seek a final ruling. Last year, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling ordering former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a one-year jail term in connection with the high-profile "14th floor" case.
In this case, the Supreme Court is handling perhaps one of the most outrageous bribery allegations it has seen to date.
Lest we forget, former deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn was accused of bribing NACC commissioner Ekawit Watchawalaku and two other NACC officials. The high-ranking officer -- once a strong candidate for the national police chief post -- was accused of giving gold bars weighing 246 baht, worth 15 million baht, to Mr Ekawit in exchange for suspending an investigation into his alleged links to an online gambling operation.
Even though the Supreme Court has not pressed any charge, its probe is a direct affront to the NACC.
The NACC is no stranger to controversy or criticism. Recently, a former NACC commissioner and a former chief were given three-year jail terms for failing to comply with a Supreme Administrative Court order requiring the office to disclose its inquiry into Gen Prawit Wongsuwon's luxury watches. Meanwhile, its ruling clearing former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob of wealth concealment likewise cast a shadow over the office. Yet these negative reports and doubts are incomparable to having one of its own commissioners investigated by the Supreme Court for taking a bribe.
The NACC must brace for more turbulence. Independent senators have also petitioned the Supreme Court to look into its ruling clearing Mr Saksayam of wealth concealment, despite the Constitutional Court having found this politician -- a former secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai Party -- in the wrong.
The NACC is tasked with fighting corruption in public office. Yet the case simply raises the question of whether this anti-corruption mechanism can be depended upon at all.
The question is what the NACC will do to regain trust. Over the past month, it has shown the public that it is working very hard, releasing reports on its investigations. But that hard work will never be enough if the NACC cannot convince the public that the office itself is clean enough to find fault with anyone.
