The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) insisted yesterday that its decision to clear Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan for allegedly possessing a large number of luxury watches of unexplained orgin was legitimate after their ruling drew flak from both critics and politicians.

“The decision was made based on evidence shown in the case file,” NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon said. “As for the criticism, we cannot stop anyone from criticising this because they have the right to do so. But time will tell that the NACC did not use emotion in judging this case.”

He also said that the NACC cannot stop the public from gathering signatures to push for the impeachment of the five commissioners who found Prawit innocent. However, he said, people need to know that the anti-graft agency’s investigation and ruling had followed due process.

NACC’s statement came in response to widespread criticism after the commissioners decided to drop charges against Prawit’s controversial collection of 22 luxury watches that are believed to be worth over Bt20 million.

The agency announced on Thursday that the watches belonged to Prawit’s deceased friend, as the general had initially claimed, and that he was not guilty of concealing assets.

Anti-corruption activist Srisuwan Junya, however, issued a statement yesterday alleging malfeasance on the part of the five commissioners who had found Prawit innocent and declared he had gathered 20,000 signatures to get them sacked.

Activist Veera Somkwamkid said yesterday that he will file lawsuit against the NACC for letting Prawit walk free. Observers, meanwhile, along with politicians from different parties voiced similar concerns, saying this may set a new standard that borrowing such expensive items was legitimate.

“In the future, if others are caught in a similar situation, will they get away with it if they say they borrowed the items from a friend?” Pheu Thai Party deputy spokesman Wattanarak Suranatyut asked.

The party also questioned how the NACC had ruled out any possibility of conflict of interest related to this case. Undermining credibility Nattawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader and a core member of the Thai Raksa Chart Party, said yesterday that this case could ultimately undermine the country’s credibility in the eyes of the international community.

“This is a red flag in the scrutiny by independent agencies,” Nattawut said. “Now it’s impossible to ensure any scrutiny of corruption in this country.”

Democrat Party’s Charnchai Issarasenarak said on Friday that the NACC appeared to have found an excuse for General Prawit, instead of finding facts regarding the controversial collection.

“The NACC was incapable of finding facts about the 25 watches. This is a disgrace for the agency and could end up being a catastrophe for it,” he said. Charnchai, a former Nakhon Nayok MP, accused the NACC of lying to the public by claiming it could not find out who had bought these watches.

He too said corrupt government officials can use the same excuse in the future – that they “borrowed” their ill-gotten gains from generous friends.

Seri Ruam Thai Party leader Seripisut Temiyavej on Friday suggested the anti-graft agency’s decision to clear Prawit may have something to do with the fact that the incumbent NACC president was once the deputy PM’s subordinate.

Seripisut, a former national police chief, said he will “deal with” the NACC in relation to this matter if he gains political power after the elections.