JUSTICE / ASSET RECOVERY ACT

Ministry urges law's enactment

BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL

The Justice Ministry wants to implement the Asset Recovery Act before Thailand ratifies the United Nations Convention against Corruption later this year. Justice deputy permanent secretary Thongthong Chandarangsu said if the act take effect, it would help track down ill-gotten assets concealed in a third country and bring them back home.

Currently, Thailand cannot ask for cooperation from a third country to return such assets in the absence of the law, said Mr Thongthong.

Apart from the Asset Recovery Act, the ministry needs to amend the Criminal Act to ensure such corruption cases would no longer have a statutes of limitation.

It will also amend the Criminal Act to penalise state officials of foreign countries who take bribes from Thais. Those found guilty of such acts would face a similar punishment as giving bribes to Thai officials. But this will depend on an agreement to be made with all nations.

At least 100 countries have signed the UN Convention and around 60 have ratified it.

Mr Thongthong said most countries that have ratified the convention already have the Asset Recovery Act in place so Thailand, as a signatory state, should also have it.

He said he expected to forward the new act and the amendment of the Criminal Act to the cabinet by late next month, before submitting them to the National Legislative Assembly.

If everything goes smoothly, the convention could be ratified later this year, he said.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Saturday April 21, 2007