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Published on February 25, 2008

The future of the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) - the anti-graft body charged with probing corruption allegations involving the Thaksin administration - suddenly looks bleak.

People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej campaigned on a promise to dissolve the AEC.

The term of the AEC was originally meant to expire in September last year, but the Surayud government extended it to June.

However, it did not appropriate additional money for the agency.

The AEC has been able to continue by using funds it did not spend from its initial Bt45 million allocation made last year.

The AEC has been spending Bt2.4 million a month. The allocation allowed it Bt3.75 million a month.

However, the anti-graft panel needs at least Bt5 million to continue until the end of June.

AEC secretary-general Kaewsan Atibodhi earlier sought an additional Bt19 million from the government to cover costs if the Office of the Attorney General rejects recommended prosecutions, and the committee decides to take these matters to court independently.

The Attorney General in December rejected the recommended prosecution of charges related to the two- and three-digit lottery.

This caused the AEC uncertainty over the acceptance of prosecution recommendations in another 12 cases it investigated. The Surayud government did not approve that cash request, and passed the hot potato to the Budget Bureau.

The AEC is now certain the bureau will reject the request in the wake of the PPP election win, suggesting it will be under pressure to do so.

The bureau initially asserted it could not approve funds because the AEC had to seek money from independent agencies, such as the National Counter Corruption Commis-sion or the Election Commis-sion.

If these do not have money available, it must approach the Cabinet again, it said.

So, the AEC asked the corruption commission for money. Two months have passed since that, and there is no sign the money will be forthcoming.

Kaewsan, however, expressed confidence the commission would finally give the request the nod.

Commission member Klana-rong Chantik said it had not approved the allocation yet because it ran into legal snags and was seeking a recommendation from the Budget Bureau.

He said legislation allowing independent agencies to allocate funding was old and was enforced before the AEC had its term extended.

The commission needs bureau confirmation so it can still do so, he said.

Samak dismissed the funding shortages, stating the committee knew where to get money and added the matter was one for the Budget Bureau.

Committee spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said if money was not received, the committee would make a decision to solve the problem.

There are alternatives. It can push on without money, dissolve itself before the end of its term and pass on its caseload to other agencies, or seek money from the public.

If the Attorney General refuses recommend prosecutions, the committee can ask the courts to waive fees, he said.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation