The conflict-of-interest bill focuses on holders of political office and state officials, prohibiting them from using family members in the private sector as nominees for business transactions.

The Constitution Court rejected the legitimacy of a similar law in 2008, citing the lack of a parliamentary quorum in the passage of the bill. The original version of the law banned collusion between public officials and family members with a relationship as distant as seven degrees of separation, while the latest version only bans conflicts of interests between family up to three degrees of separation – parents, children and spouses of children.

The legislation would be applicable in cases where offenders faced not more than three years in jail or up to a Bt60,000 fine or both.

The committee will submit the bill for NRSA and Cabinet approval.

Worawit said the Criminal Court’s Corruption Division has delivered swift justice in graft cases by shortening the duration of trials from seven years to one year.

“We might see people convicted of corruption being sent to jail this year,” he said.

If there are delays in graft-related trials in the future, the National Anti-Corruption Commission or prosecutors might be the cause, he said.