Anti-graft panel waits for assets, liabilities reports from ex-Thai PM, four former ministers

BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) - Thailand's ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and four other former ministers have not yet submitted reports on their assets and liabilities to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), after leaving their office last month. NACC Deputy Secretary-General Worawit Sookboon told journalists on Thursday that the deadline for former premier Yingluck to make her asset declaration was by 4:30pm on June 5 after she left her office, but she has not done so. On May 7, the Constitutional Court ruled to unseat Yingluck for abuse of power regarding her order to transfer Thawil Pliensi, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), in 2011. Worawit said the other ex-four ministers include former deputy prime minister Pracha Promnok, former deputy prime minister and finance minister Kitti-rat na ranong, former deputy prime minister Plodprasop suraswadi and former minister attached to the prime minister's office Santi Prompat. According to the NACC deputy chief, the four ex-ministers, who left their offices after the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) seized the national administrative power from the caretaker government on May 22, 2014, are to send reports on their assets and liabilities to his independent anti-graft panel by June 20, 2014. The NACC deputy chief noted in case that the former prime minister and ministers failed to declare their assets and liabilities within the set deadlines, they could send letters to explain their reasons for the NACC's further consideration. Asked whether the NACC can scrutinize assets and liabilities of NCPO members, the anti-graft panel acknowledged that the Corruption Prevention and Suppression Act B.E. 2542 does not require NCPO members to make their asset declarations. Meanwhile, the NACC reportedly set up a panel on Thursday to probe assets of former premier Yingluck and former ministers involving in the loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme. (TNA)