• 
• 

Published on April 29, 2008

BANCHA KHAENGKHAN

THE NATION

The jurisdictional transfer has been prompted by the expiry of the AEC's term in June.

Klanarong said the NCCC would take over all ongoing graft cases from the AEC. The NCCC will also coordinate to involve the Revenue Department on cases of tax violations and the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Department of Special Investigation on cases with shady money routing.

In regard to cases at the indictment stage, the NCCC will proceed from where the AEC left off as it is empowered to appoint AEC investigators and panel members to carry on their job without interruption.

For cases completed and forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General, the NCCC will appoint its officials to work with the AEC panel members and public prosecutors in vetting the reports.

The NCCC and the AEC will jointly publicise the findings from graft cases in a bid to draw a lesson about corruption and prevention.

Klanarong said the nine-member NCCC would ensure the completion of graft proceedings in every case regardless of any attempts to amend the charter to revamp the anti-graft mandate.  "The nine NCCC members will work to the last day in office should the charter be amended to remove us from office," he said.

AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengrueng said the NCCC would assume the liabilities from any litigation involving the AEC. At present, 19 civil and criminal cases have been incurred in the AEC's line of duty, he said.

Tasked to investigate graft cases involving former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his administration, the AEC has managed to complete three cases for the prosecution stage. Regarding the Ratchadaphisek land case, the Supreme Court will today and tomorrow examine the prosecution and defence evidence before commencing trial.

For the tax evasion case involving Thaksin's wife Khunying Pojaman, the Criminal Court will hear defence witnesses on May 2 and 30. The Supreme Court will rule on May 14 whether the lottery case merits judicial review.

The AEC is preparing to prosecute the rubber sapling case on its own after failing to reconcile differing views with the public prosecutors.

The AEC has forwarded its report on the Bt4-billion bank loan to Burma on April 10 and the prosecution review is expected to be completed in 30 days.