Former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk insisted yesterday he is fully qualified to apply for seats on both the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Public Prosecutors Commission (PPC).
Nate: Doesn’t heed criticism
Mr Nate’s decision not to indict Red Bull scion Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya over a hit-and-run incident back in 2012 in which a police officer was killed resulted in him being dismissed from the role.
His dismissal came after the Public Prosecutors Commission in May last year found him guilty of gross negligence while also damaging the Office of the Attorney-General’s reputation and authority under Sections 85 and 87 of the Civil Service Act 2010.
Mr Nate, however, said that as the Supreme Administrative Court has yet to rule on his appeal, the earlier verdict could not be said to be final.
He also insisted that his decision not to indict Mr Vorayuth was entirely legitimate, while the intervention in the prosecution of the hit-and-run case by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who ordered an independent panel to look into the prosecution’s handling of the case, was not.
As for Vicha Mahakun, the head of the independent panel looking into irregularities surrounding this notorious hit-and-run case, Mr Nate said he had petitioned the NACC against Mr Vicha and nine other parties whom he accused of malfeasance.
He said he was closely following the progress of his petition and had recently learnt that the matter would be formally investigated by the NACC’s sub-committee soon.
As for the PPC position for which he has also applied, he said the selection of a suitable candidate would be decided according to the number of votes by public prosecutors nationwide.
Mr Nate added he did not pay any attention to the criticism against him by those who think he is unsuitable for either of these positions.