Sasikarn urges the government to resolve the stigma from the transnational bribery case, pointing out that sacred and transparent laws are central to attracting investors. She recommends closing legal loopholes and updating the definition of "state agency" to stay ahead of corrupt tactics.
On 18 May 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Sasikarn Wattanajan, deputy spokesperson of the United Thai Nation Party, commented on private sector talks with the government about economic recovery. She said this signals positive momentum for the country’s progress, but equally important is "transparency," which is key to building confidence among businesses and investors. She cited the transnational bribery case involving Rolls-Royce and PTTEP as an example, where the NACC recently dismissed all charges after more than seven years of consideration, calling it a "global dark comedy" that society must question.
Ms. Sasikarn stated that the Rolls-Royce bribery case is a major transnational corruption case under global scrutiny. Internationally, the company admitted to U.S. authorities that it paid bribes to Thai officials to secure large project contracts and paid hefty fines. However, in Thailand, the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence and legal limitations, as PTTEP is not considered a 100% state enterprise. This raises the key question: "Foreign parties say someone paid bribes, but in the end, Thailand can’t identify the recipients—really?"
Ms. Sasikarn also noted that while she respects the justice process and relevant laws, the case reveals a contradiction between international and Thai standards, which may damage the country’s credibility with investors. If Thailand wants to attract investment and build economic trust, the government and related agencies must urgently address legal loopholes and the definition of "state agency" which must keep pace with the cunning tactics of transnational corruption to prevent creating gray areas that facilitate evasion of future scrutiny.
However, Ms. Sasikarn acknowledged that the current government may have to address "stains of the past," but if it is serious about anti-corruption, it must prove this by creating a clean, transparent, and fair investment ecosystem alongside economic promotion. The countries that attract the best investment may not be those offering the most incentives, but those with the most sacred and transparent laws.