The nine-member NCCC was installed in office following the September 19 military coup after an absence of almost two years.

Key anti-graft activities include:

lGranting public access to the asset statements of Cabinet members filed during the two Thaksin Shinawatra administrations.

lDisclosing the asset statements filed by seven members of the National Telecommunications Commission.

lAppointing 17 investigative panels to speed up graft cases, including the Klong Dan waste treatment project.

lRuling on cause to suspect foul play and order prosecution for 11 graft cases, including the lottery scam.

lRejecting 88 graft complaints and terminate 42 cases as groundless.

Constitution

No place for Apirak in drafting panel

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin won't be qualified to join the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the public relations chairman of the committee overseeing the National People's Assembly (NPA) said yesterday.

Supoj Khaimook said although some people, including the Bangkok governor were named as members of the NPA because of their positions, members of a political party were prohibited from being in the Constitution Drafting Assembly according to the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshall Chalit Pookphasuk, chairman of the committee overseeing the NPA, said many people were interested in joining the NPA and their qualifications would have to be verified.

Article 19 of the Constitution says members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly must not be, or used to be, members of a political party two years before being selected (to be in the Constitution Drafting Assembly).

Political rotest

Court fines Thaksin supporter

A magistrates court in Phitsanulok yesterday ordered a supporter of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra to pay a fine of Bt1,500 for destroying anti-Thaksin banners in August.

The Phitsanulok Kwang Court found Chaiyapruek Singha guilty of inflicting property damage against a local chapter of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The verdict was based on Chaiyapruek's confession.

In his statement, Chaiyapruek admitted to removing the banners with the hope of disrupting a protest by the PAD's local chapter. The protest was organised to coincide with an inspection trip by Thaksin to this northern province.