Thirapat said the bill had been checked by the Council of State and will be forwarded for Cabinet approval today. If the Cabinet approves it, he will forward it to the National Legislative Assembly next week.

He said the bill constitutes 19 articles written with the motivation to crack down on policy corruption of the type being investigated by anti-graft panels.

"This law will bring Thailand to the same level as developed countries in terms of anti-graft measures," he said.

The bill expands the scope of "state officials'' to include directors, sub-committee members, temporary employees of government agencies, state enterprises and arms of government agencies, as well as the managements of local governments.

The definition of spouse includes a man or a woman who have a sexual relationship with or without a marriage certificate.

"Whether they are minor wives or minor husbands and no matter how many wives or husbands they have, if it is proven they have taken part in committing offences, they will be punished,'' Thirapat said.

Under the bill, government officials found guilty will face up to 10 years in jail and a Bt400,000 fine. Politicians and their nominees or their families found guilty will get up to 15 years and a Bt600,000 fine.

If the offenders are companies or juristic bodies, the managing directors and executives will be punished. Their contracts with the state will be invalidated.

The bill empowers the National Counter Corruption Commission to launch primary investigations into projects suspected of violating the law even though the complainants do not identify the culprits.

A total of 50 MPs or senators or 5,000 eligible voters can lodge a complaint with the NCCC to have a graft offence investigated.