The Election Commission (EC) has started to endorse elected MPs this week. According to the political calendar, they will have to declare their wealth and assets to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
While much attention will be pinned on the assets declared by Pita Limjaroenrat -- the presumptive next prime minister and head of the Move Forward Party (MFP) -- and other new MPs, the move is also set to revive an old controversy about a set of luxury wristwatches and rings worn several years ago by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Lest we forget, the Supreme Administrative Court on April 28 ordered the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to disclose the details of the investigation it conducted into the watch saga years ago.
This is the second time the court has ordered the graft-busting agency to release information about the probe.
To refresh the collective memory, the wristwatch saga saw Gen Prawit accused of filing a false asset declaration prior to assuming his post in 2017 because he did not include the various rings and luxury watches he had been seen wearing in public, estimated to be worth a total of over 30 million baht, in his declaration.
Gen Prawit claimed the watches belonged to a late friend, while the rings were given to him by his mother. He defended his action, stating there was no need to declare fashion accessories.
While this seemed like it might be enough to get Gen Prawit off the hook, Veera Somkwamkid, head of the Anti-Corruption People's Network, asked the Administrative Court to order the NACC to disclose the results of its probe.
In September 2021, the Administrative Court ordered the NACC to publish a summary of its probe into the luxury watches case, as well as evidence and documents compiled by its inquiry panel and Gen Prawit's testimony.
However, the NACC reportedly refused to release any information from the inquiry as it involved accounts by witnesses that it said could potentially lead to lawsuits and "a deterioration of the justice system".
The way the NACC is fiercely guarding the results is both shocking and demoralising. Regarding the latest ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court, NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol was quoted on April 28 as saying the office needs to wait for an official ruling document from the court.
Moreover, the NACC is reportedly now asking the Constitutional Court to weigh in on the matter.
Almost two months has passed, yet the NACC remains extremely tightlipped about this case.
Last Friday, Mr Niwatchai was quoted as telling media the agency is still awaiting an official ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court.
As a national graft-busting agency, the NACC can't keep denying the court's ruling.
Moreover, it is ironic for the agency to claim that revealing the details of the corruption probe would cause "a deterioration of the justice system" when the agency itself is refusing to obey the Supreme Administrative Court.
To fight corruption and promote transparency, it is not enough for the NACC to conduct a probe and expect people to trust it.
It must show the public that its investigation process is transparent and credible. After all, the justice process needs to be seen in order to be believed and trusted. It is a pity the NACC has kept the justice process in the dark.
