The Comptroller General's Department agreed the status of the AEC was equal to the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) and the committee members would receive additional allowances according to the cases they work on.

The committee would discuss the budget details on Monday, he said.

Spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said a committee assistant would receive Bt12,000 a month, while the office rent and utility bills were budgeted at Bt1.1 million. Other expenses included computers and electrical facilities.

Payment for cars and drivers had not been discussed yet, he said.

Kaewsan said the committee had received good cooperation from National Housing Authority (NHA) governor Phornsak Bunnayodom and NHA officers in investigating irregularities in the Ua Athorn Housing project. 

Besides Kaewsan, the sub-committee working on the Ua Athorn probe includes former senator Police General Meechai Nugoolgit, legal experts Surachai Liangboonlertchai, Narong Jaiharn and former dean of Thammasat University's Faculty of Law Somyot Chuathai.

Kaewsan said if the Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin would appoint more AEC members, it could investigate more cases. But the committee had had good cooperation from the police chief Gen Kowit Wattana, with 15 efficient officers to help.

He said the AEC came under the CNS, which held the real authority. It needed to follow what the CNS ordered or urged it to do.

"You have to understand, the AEC is like a planet, it is not so powerful. The powerful agency is the CNS. We examine [the assets] according to CNS orders. If it wants us to investigate any case urgently, we have to follow and make progress," Kaewsan said.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation