The Senate committee scrutinising the 18 candidates for the graft watchdog yesterday heard the personal visions of the first group of six.

But while some candidates touched on the erosion of public faith in the NCCC, none of them addressed the problem of the Election Commission (EC) and other independent organisations awarding themselves pay rises, a member of the Senate panel said.

They failed to show any insight into accusations against the most controversial independent agency - the EC, a senator said.

Sawai Chantasri, a former Criminal Court senior judge, told the panel that the loss of public trust in the NCCC stems from the weak candidate-recruitment process by the Senate.

The NCCC's two most urgent tasks are to tackle the huge backlog of cases, and to ensure its members uphold justice and maintain the will to go after offenders, Sawai said.

To work more efficiently, the NCCC must launch proactive probes and share the responsibilities for suppression, inspection, prevention and asset checks of unusually rich officials, he said. Out of more than 2,000 complaints, the NCCC has finished investigating only half.

The NCCC should conduct secret examinations and invite a figure of high integrity to head the fact-finding panel, he said.

Pol Lt-General Wanchai Srinualnat, a former assistant National Police chief, said asset investigation cases were piling up because of loopholes in the organic laws of the Constitution. Amendments should be proposed to allow the use of information technology in corruption prevention and suppression, he said.

Nakhon Pathom Governor Prasart Pongwisapai said the NCCC should be allowed to initiate by itself, as the damaged party, impeachment proceedings against politicians without having to wait for a complaint from the public, as the law now requires 50,000 signatures of eligible voters.

The NCCC should also prioritise its caseload, putting corruption by politicians on top of the list, and set up provincial offices to tackle graft by lower ranking officials, Prasart said.

Both Sawai and Wanchai were among the nine appointed NCCC members from the previous round who failed to win Royal endorsement because one candidate had withdrawn from the nomination process.

All senators will be given a VCD of the 18 candidates' presentations to use in voting for the nine candidates that will eventually fill the NCCC seats.

Outgoing Senator Wallop Tangkananurak said the speeches by the candidates were broadcast to give the public a chance learn about the candidates. "We want more information about each candidate - particularly about whether he or she has ever been involved in corruption."

The three other candidates were FDA secretary-general Pakdee Pothisiri, senior public prosecutor Wimut Buachan and senior judge Kulpat Ithithamwinit.

Bancha Kaengkan,

 Prapasri Osathanon

 The Nation