Student intern blows the whistle on poverty centre’s alleged Bt6.9 embezzlement scam

By SIVA LOHO 
THE NATION 

 

 

AN ONGOING investigation has found that several officials at the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute have allegedly embezzled Bt6.9 million of state funds using forged signatures after an intern exposed alleged wrongdoing at the facility.

 

Panida Yotpanya, a 22-year-old student at the Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, alerted officials about the alleged wrongdoing and is a key witness in the case. 

 

“There is solid evidence against five officials,” Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) assistant secretary-general Pol Lt-Colonel Wannop Somjintanakul said yesterday. 

 

Panida and three of her friends joined the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute as student trainees and, during their apprenticeship, they were told to forge the signatures of more than 2,000 people.

 

The order prompted Panida and her friends to report the matter to their faculty. They also lodged complaints with the Social Development and Human Security Ministry. 

 

Worried that no concrete action had been taken against the officials had who ordered the forgery, Panida petitioned the PACC and the National Council for Peace and Order. 

 

 In response to her complaint, Wannop yesterday led a team to Khon Kaen province to gather evidence, finding that people listed as having received financial help from the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute either had not received any money or had received less than what the centre claimed they had received. 

 

Sopa Jomkhamsing, a member of a local occupational group, said the centre gave her group Bt30,000 in financial support but documents showed the group had received Bt90,000. 

 

Wannop said the PACC should be able to conclude its investigation in the case within six months. 

 

“We also plan to expand the investigation to cover all protection centres for the destitute in the country,” she said. 

 

Panida said she decided to speak up to protect her own name and also the public. 

 

“I sought an apprenticeship at the Khon Kaen Centre for the Destitute because I have always wanted to become a great social worker,” she said. 

 

“I hope I will be able to serve society and help millions of destitute people after my graduation. So, I refused to stay silent after detecting such irregularities.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338579

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-12

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Panida Yotpanya, a 22-year-old student at the Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, alerted officials about the alleged wrongdoing and is a key witness in the case. 

Brave young lady. 

I thought integrity was banned here.

Lady has some big cajones.

5 minutes ago, isaanbanhou said:

Brave young lady. 

Yes and stupid, whistleblowers are needed here so badly but they need protection and be anonimous. BUT then again as it so often falls on deaf ears you need to stand on the highest roof top and shout for about a year to be noticed.. One hopes she is aware  or briefed to "Watch her back"

There is a special place in hell for people who steal from the poor.

 

Throw them in jail, and be very sure to tell all the other inmates exactly why they are there...

 

PS Good on you, young lady! Perhaps there is hope...

 

Edited February 11, 20188 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

 

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

Wannop said the PACC should be able to conclude its investigation in the case within six months. 

 

We have someone here prepared to stand up and persistently complain to multiple departments. Even so, the cynic in me thinks that in six months the bureaucrats hope it will be out of the public eye.

We all know that it doesn't need to take six months to investigate, unless everyone involved in the investigation has very heavy feet they need to drag.

Yes, she did the right thing to do........

Or maybe not.......

"PM invites Thai people to do good things under Thai Niyom scheme"

These five officials are doing good things. Problem is it is for themselves rather than the poor. No different to many civil servants.

It took a young intern because all the seniors were in on the scam and stayed quiet. It happens like this all over the country and shows no sign of abating.

Yes Panida is a very brave young lady,many more like her needed.

Only problem for her now is her safety, be careful young lady, watch your back.

Thailand should have the same punishment for graft as the Chinese do. The examples in the OP would be classed as 'low level flies' in China but they would be dealt with in the same way as 'high level tigers'.

Panida Yotpanya, a 22-year-old student at the Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, alerted officials about the alleged wrongdoing and is a key witness in the case. 

 

This young lady and the national park ranger in the Premchai case are Thailands hope for the future. The people that are already entrenched in positions of power are already corrupted. They can't help themselves. Too much is never enough and there is no such thing as too much. In the 12 years I have been here there has never been a government, any government, that spent as much time helping people as they did filling their own pockets. Good work Panida, go forward and continue to help change your country.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Worried that no concrete action had been taken against the officials

Why not?  Another cover-up. 

 

Do I detect a wave - well - a ripple of integrity beginning to take hold in the Kingdom?  1st Wichien refuses bribe money & prosecutes an untouchable and now another National heroine.

14 minutes ago, Fish Head Soup said:

Thailand should have the same punishment for graft as the Chinese do. The examples in the OP would be classed as 'low level flies' in China but they would be dealt with in the same way as 'high level tigers'.

Isn't the punishment in China execution for serious corruption? In Thailand it's to flee with the stolen money.

Thailand needs more people like this young lady. I wish her all the best and would say be very careful not everyone appreciates her actions 

2 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Isn't the punishment in China execution for serious corruption? In Thailand it's to flee with the stolen money.

For government officials yes it can be death. For most it is extremely heavy prison terms and quite often life.

23 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Why not?  Another cover-up. 

 

Do I detect a wave - well - a ripple of integrity beginning to take hold in the Kingdom?  1st Wichien refuses bribe money & prosecutes an untouchable and now another National heroine.

As you say, a ripple, not quite a wave. I really do hope your use of the word 'integrity" is correct and is hopefully encouraging others to do the same.

Edited February 12, 20188 yr by bluesofa
smelling mistake

The five needed bling just following the men in white's example.  

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Isn't the punishment in China execution for serious corruption? In Thailand it's to flee with the stolen money.

Here it is called 'inactive execution'.

Edited February 12, 20188 yr by Lupatria

Odd! As the amount of money is exactly the same to be set aside for the new Pattaya sewerage plant posted today. Coincidence or what? Where, in the Pattaya sewerage fix, I responded in that article that by the time the money filters down past developers and politicians nothing would be left. Here in this article is supporting evidence!

Reference" Efforts under way to tackle pollution in the seas of Phuket and Krabi"

Edited February 12, 20188 yr by wavemanwww

Has she been arrested for defamation yet? it's all a misunderstanding I expect 

All the money gone and never be recovered but it’s great to see a Thai person having the guts to speak out! But as ever there’s very little chance of justice


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Pesky students, getting all the press these days!

Sent from my F3116 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

Has she been arrested for defamation yet? it's all a misunderstanding I expect 

The five officials merely borrowed the Bt6.9 million in state funds and have every intention to pay it back. Not a crime.

6 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

There is a special place in hell for people who steal from the poor.

 

Throw them in jail, and be very sure to tell all the other inmates exactly why they are there...

 

PS Good on you, young lady! Perhaps there is hope...

 

 

 

yes indeed. perhaps a spontaneous gene mutation causing "integrity"

6 freaking month? why so long, so they can pocket half and let the public forget about it?

Can someone amend the headline to this post.....embezzling 6.9 baht isn't exactly newsworthy :)