'Transfer not related to graft probe'
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Justice Minister Pracha Promnok insisted yesterday that he was not interfering with investigation into corruption by transferring a senior graft buster but was, in fact, paving the way for the man's career advancement.
Pracha, accompanied by senior ministry officials, visited the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to explain his decision of moving Dusadee Arayawuth out of his post as PACC secretary-general.
“I stand firm in providing my full support to the battle against corruption and will not allow anything to block the investigation,” he said, adding that making Dusadee the Justice deputy permanent secretary was in no way linked to his work at the PACC.
He reminded critics that he had personally chosen Dusadee to lead the PACC and now he deemed it appropriate to give him a new job with a greater scope of responsibility. Pracha went on to say that he had consulted with relevant officials, including PACC chairman Sophon Chantrema, before finalising his decision.
The minister said that in his new job, Dusadee would be put in charge of supervising drug-suppression measures as requested by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. He explained that this new responsibility would help Dusadee advance further in his career.
As for naming Dusadee’s successor, Pracha said that since the appointment would go into effect on October 1, he still had time to complete the nomination process, adding that PACC’s Civil Service Sub-Commission would convene soon to vet candidates for the job.
Should the nomination fail to be completed on time, he said he had the mandate to name a caretaker, who would possibly be a PACC insider or a senior official from outside.
He reaffirmed that regardless of the PACC line-up, probes into corruption would stay on course.
Following Pracha’s remarks, Sophon said neither the PACC board nor the minister had made a final decision on Dusadee’s successor.
He also dismissed speculation that his son, an official at the Department of Special Investigation, was a candidate for the job, saying his son had no seniority to justify this appointment.
