ncr
27-10-04, 02:04 PM
Now isn't that ironic? Only in Thailand.......:
Two weeks or so after the PM declared the government's concerted "War on Corruption", the country's top agency for the fight against graft, the NCCC, has to completely suspend its work because it is itself embroiled in a scandal about the self-enrichment of its commissioners and the target of a Supreme Court Investigation into an alleged abuse of power and the legality of their recent self-awarded pay-hike.....
From The Nation:
NCCC SUSPENSION: Graft investigations grind to a halt
Published on October 27, 2004
The suspension of the National Counter Corruption Commission's anti-graft investigations includes its subcommittees, which are currently handling about 1,000 cases, commission secretary-general Sarawut Menasawet said yesterday.
While the NCCC's offices remain open, the commission is only dealing with routine administrative affairs. And even though the Anti-Money Laundering Office has offered to step up and continue the graft probes during the NCCC's work suspension, Sarawut said the law was clear that only the NCCC is authorised to investigate graft violations.
"The nine NCCC members and their subcommittees put on hold all of their work following last week's start of a judicial inquiry into the alleged abuse of power," Sarawut said.
The inquiry is in response to a petition submitted by 203 lawmakers, who contend that NCCC commissioners illegally awarded themselves substantial pay hikes without legislative approval.
Senator Preecha Pitanont said the nine NCCC members had returned the money they received since August.
The NCCC argued that it had adjusted the remuneration package to increase the monthly allowance for meetings, which could not be classified as salary.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders is scheduled to meet on Friday to set up selection procedures for a five-member panel that will investigate the charges.
Would be really funny if it wasn't that sad, what do you say?
Two weeks or so after the PM declared the government's concerted "War on Corruption", the country's top agency for the fight against graft, the NCCC, has to completely suspend its work because it is itself embroiled in a scandal about the self-enrichment of its commissioners and the target of a Supreme Court Investigation into an alleged abuse of power and the legality of their recent self-awarded pay-hike.....
From The Nation:
NCCC SUSPENSION: Graft investigations grind to a halt
Published on October 27, 2004
The suspension of the National Counter Corruption Commission's anti-graft investigations includes its subcommittees, which are currently handling about 1,000 cases, commission secretary-general Sarawut Menasawet said yesterday.
While the NCCC's offices remain open, the commission is only dealing with routine administrative affairs. And even though the Anti-Money Laundering Office has offered to step up and continue the graft probes during the NCCC's work suspension, Sarawut said the law was clear that only the NCCC is authorised to investigate graft violations.
"The nine NCCC members and their subcommittees put on hold all of their work following last week's start of a judicial inquiry into the alleged abuse of power," Sarawut said.
The inquiry is in response to a petition submitted by 203 lawmakers, who contend that NCCC commissioners illegally awarded themselves substantial pay hikes without legislative approval.
Senator Preecha Pitanont said the nine NCCC members had returned the money they received since August.
The NCCC argued that it had adjusted the remuneration package to increase the monthly allowance for meetings, which could not be classified as salary.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders is scheduled to meet on Friday to set up selection procedures for a five-member panel that will investigate the charges.
Would be really funny if it wasn't that sad, what do you say?