Oct 7 case was NACC's hardest: Wicha

He insisted it was "purely a coincidence" that the National Anti-Corruption Commission indicted National Police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan at a time when the government wanted changes at the top of the Royal Thai Police.

Wicha, a member of the NACC, said the case against Patcharawat, some other senior police officers and politicians in power at that time had continued for almost a year and had led to criticism that the anti-graft agency was working slowly.

"We don't want our decision to coincide with any political event because we are aware there will be an impact. The NACC has made it clear that we are not the tool for anyone and we have no connections with the Democrat Party," he said.

Wicha, a former judge, said the case was the most difficult for him in the three years he has served on the NACC. That was because it pitched the agency against powerful politicians and the entire police force.

"No organisation or agency has scrutinised the police force so extensively, from top to bottom, like we did. The police force has power in its hands so their struggle is strong. This is in addition to political pressure. There was a nationwide signature campaign to impeach NACC members," Wicha said.

The NACC indicted high-ranking police officers, former premier Somchai Wongsawat and his deputy Chavalit Yongchaiyudh for malfeasance for involvement in the crackdown on yellow-shirt protesters on October 7 last year. Two people were killed and hundreds of others were injured in the crackdown.

In the early hours of Friday, there was an explosion in a house that Vicha had sold to a university lecturer in July when a hand grenade was hurled in, in Bangkok's Bang Phlat district.