NBTC Accuses Veera of Coercion in Lawsuit Withdrawals, Threatening Prosecution

Matichon•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is investigating alleged coercion by activist Veera Somkhwandi to withdraw lawsuits, with the NACC chief vowing to prosecute.

•The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is investigating activist Veera Somkhwandi for allegedly coercing parties to withdraw lawsuits.
•Veera is accused of using information obtained from defendants, including written apologies, as leverage, potentially constituting threats.
•A court ruled that former NACC Chairman Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit and former NACC Commissioner Ms. Supa Piyajit had to prosecute, but Veera's attempt to withdraw the case was denied.

Overview

•On May 28, the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 1 ruled on a case filed by Mr. Veera Somkhwandi against the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and 12 personnel.
•The lawsuit stemmed from the alleged concealment of documents regarding luxury watches owned by Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan upon taking office as Deputy Prime Minister.
•The court accepted the case (Black Case No. Ath. 95/2024) and acquitted some defendants.
•Mr. Veera filed to withdraw lawsuits against Mr. Nattajak Patamasings Na Ayudhya and Mr. Wittaya Arkhampitak, former NACC commissioners.
•On April 7, Mr. Veera filed to withdraw lawsuits against Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, former NACC Chairman, and Ms. Supa Piyajit, former NACC commissioner, but the court did not allow it.
•The court found Pol. Gen. Watcharapol and Ms. Supa guilty, sentencing them to 3 years imprisonment, but they were granted bail of 400,000 baht each to appeal.
•A source from the NACC stated that Mr. Veera commented on the case and revealed the reasons for withdrawing lawsuits, claiming the defendants followed his conditions, including writing apologies and providing information.
•The NACC source questioned if Veera's actions, using information obtained from defendants for potential future disclosures, constituted coercion, and pointed out an inconsistency in the court's allowance of withdrawals for some defendants but not others.

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Key Quotes

Source from NBTC

"Some information received will be revealed by Mr. Veera in the future for the benefit of society."

ข้อมูบางส่วนที่ได้รับมานายวีระจะเปิดเผยในอนาคตเพื่อประโยชน์กับสังคม

Source from NBTC

"Mr. Veera commented on this case and revealed the reason for withdrawing the lawsuit...claiming the four defendants at that time followed the conditions proposed by Mr. Veera."

นายวีระแสดงความเห็นในคดีนี้ และเปิดเผยเหตุผลการถอนฟ้อง...อ้างว่าจำเลยทั้ง 4 ในตอนนั้น ปฏิบัติตามเงื่อนไขที่นายวีระเสนอ

Source from NBTC

"Mr. Veera stated that the information provided by the four defendants might be used for other information in the future, possibly constituting coercion."

นายวีระระบุว่า ข้อมูลที่จำเลยทั้ง 4 ให้มานั้นอาจจะนำไปใช้เป็นข้อมูลอื่นๆ ในวันข้างหน้า อาจจะเข้าข่ายข่มขู่หรือไม่

Key Entities

Organization

National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)(ป.ป.ช.)ℹ️

The organization involved in a lawsuit concerning the concealment of luxury watch ownership documents and whose personnel are accused of wrongdoing.

Person

Veera Somkhwandi(นายวีระ สมความคิด)ℹ️

An activist who filed a lawsuit against the NACC and its personnel and is now accused of coercing parties to withdraw lawsuits.

Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan(พล.อ.ประวิตร วงษ์สุวรรณ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister whose ownership of luxury watches was the subject of a lawsuit concerning alleged document concealment.

Mr. Nattajak Patamasings Na Ayudhya(นายณัฐจักร ปัทมสิงห์ ณ อยุธยา)

Former NACC commissioner against whom Veera Somkhwandi filed and then sought to withdraw a lawsuit.

Mr. Wittaya Arkhampitak(นายวิทยา อาคมพิทักษ์)

Former NACC commissioner against whom Veera Somkhwandi filed and then sought to withdraw a lawsuit.

Pol. Gen. Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit(พล.ต.อ.วัชรพล ประสานราชกิจ)

Former NACC Chairman found guilty in a case filed by Veera Somkhwandi, against whom Veera sought to withdraw the lawsuit without court permission.

Ms. Supa Piyajit(น.ส.สุภา ปิยะจิตติ)

Former NACC commissioner found guilty in a case filed by Veera Somkhwandi, against whom Veera sought to withdraw the lawsuit without court permission.

Mr. Suchart Trakoonkasemsuk(นายสุชาติ ตระกูลเกษมสุข)

NACC commissioner who voted in the minority to disclose information, and for whom Veera initially did not agree to withdraw the lawsuit.

Ms. Suwana Suwanjuta(นางสุวณา สุวรรณจูฑะ)

NACC commissioner who voted in the minority to disclose information, and for whom Veera initially did not agree to withdraw the lawsuit.

Place

Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 1(ศาลอาญาคดีทุจริตและประพฤติมิชอบภาค 1)

The court that made rulings in the case involving Veera Somkhwandi and the NACC.

Law

Regulations of the President of the Supreme Court on Procedures for Corruption and Misconduct Cases B.E. 2016, Section 14(ข้อบังคับของประธานศาลฎีกา ว่าด้วยวิธีการดำเนินคดีทุจริตและประพฤติมิชอบ พ.ศ.2016 ข้อ 14)

A regulation cited in the NACC case regarding court consideration of lawsuit withdrawal requests, focusing on public benefit and national damage.