25 allegedly involved in fraud at centres for the destitute

[webfact]

25 allegedly involved in fraud at centres for the destitute

By THE NATION

 

File photo: Bung Kan

 

AT LEAST 25 people – including directors of five centres – have been involved in the alleged embezzlement of state funds from many protection centres for the destitute, an investigation has revealed.
 

The ongoing probe by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has found suspected misuse of funds allocated for the poor and needy at 28 provincial branches of the centre, according to Pol General Jarumporn Suramanee, a PACC executive board member who acts as its spokesman. The PACC executive board, chaired by Kitti Limchaikit, met yesterday to discuss the matter. 

 

After more than two hours, the board resolved to appoint a fact-finding subcommittee to look into suspected irregularities in five more provinces where funds were skimmed from the budget intended to help low-income families, HIV patients and the destitute. 

 

The five provinces are Nong Khai, Bung Kan, Trat, Nan and Surat Thani, according to Jarumporn. 

 

 

Subcommittees were previously appointed for Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai. The centres are under the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

 

Jarumporn said yesterday that the directors of the centres in the five provinces were found to have been involved in the alleged embezzlement.

 

A number of junior officials at the centres, state officials at other local agencies and outsiders were also suspected of being involved, he added.

 

He said that if the officials were found to be involved in the fraud they would be charged with malfeasance, dereliction of duty, and falsifying official documents, as well as other charges. The anti-corruption law might also be applied, he added.

 

Jarumporn said the investigation team would examine budget records of the centres involved back to fiscal year 2015 to determine if there were any suspicious cases. The alleged scandal was first exposed by a university student who was sent to train as part of a community development course at the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute. 

 

Panida Yotpanya, a senior student at Maha Sarakham University, reported a suspected irregularity to authorities after she was ordered to complete false information on official documents and falsify the signatures of supposed aid recipients. Her tip-off led to PACC investigations into dozens of centres all over the country.

 

 

The PACC investigators met local residents whose names were used without their consent to claim aid. The people are mainly villagers and health volunteers. Many of the local residents told investigators that they had never applied for aid and that their signatures had been falsified, with photocopies of their ID cards being used without their permission. Others said they had received a small share of the aid requested on their behalf without their knowledge.

 

 

Meanwhile, Social Development and Human Security Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat yesterday said he would implement an “initial punishment” against the ministry’s officials found to be involved in the scandal. He did not elaborate.

 

He said that according to the ministerial regulations, it could take as many as 180 days for disciplinary action to be taken. “Society may view us as not serious in dealing with the issue,” he said. The minister also asked the junior officials who were forced to get involved in the fraud to come forward and confess so that they would get leniency. “They will be treated as witnesses,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340516

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-09

[Samui Bodoh]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

AT LEAST 25 people – including directors of five centres – have been involved in the alleged embezzlement of state funds from many protection centres for the destitute, an investigation has revealed.

This is a good beginning, but the idea of just 25 people being involved compared to the stories in the papers over the last little while doesn't match. What was described seemed rather larger-scale and labour intensive, and thus more people must have been  participating in the crime.

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

the board resolved to appoint a fact-finding subcommittee to look into suspected irregularities in five more provinces where funds were skimmed from the budget intended to help low-income families, HIV patients and the destitute.

I literally cringe every time I see the work "committee" invoked with stories like this, but I guess that the Thais have their own way of doing things and that I need to respect that.

 

Kudos to the Nation for following up on this story, and I desperately and sincerely hope they stay on it. Robbing from the funds allocated for the destitute is a special kind of evil.

 

One final comment; the relative silence on the part of Thailand's government is deafening. This seems like a major corruption scandal, and if the story yesterday is to be believed, one that goes back for years and years. Where is the General who launched a coup against 'Corruption'? Or does this interfere with your political plans?

 

[gunderhill]

I would  think "right  now"  would be  a  good  time for  all  Thais to stand up and whistle  blow on ALL the scams they know of, this would  give the Junta a real problem.

[Cadbury]

40 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I literally cringe every time I see the work "committee" invoked with stories like this, but I guess that the Thais have their own way of doing things and that I need to respect that.

I agree with you about these committees and so called sub-committees. They seem to be mysterious entities which are either designed to exposed the the truth of some story or sometimes smother the facts to suit the occasion.

It is encouraging to read this is called a "fact-finding sub-committee" which might give it a chance that some of the truth will come out. 

Hopefully none of the beneficiaries of the scam are on the sub-committee.

40 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

One final comment; the relative silence on the part of Thailand's government is deafening.

Yes I am surprised at this also. If there was any value in it for the PM and he had nothing to hide he would up and about blowing his bags about the integrity of his government and that he, as a crusader against corruption, will personally bring these fraudsters to justice.

But nothing.......just deafening silence! 

Edited March 8, 2018 by Cadbury

[stanleycoin]

The sad fact is,  that this sort of behavior is excepted and seen as a perk

of the position that people hold in government employment.

Robbing from the poor. ( scum bags )

Build more jails for them as Thailand has a large  rotten core. 

 

[ezzra]

Ripping off the destitute seems so easy, these are people of almost no education, political

voice or clouts, no high powered lawyers, easy marks they are, i just wonder, how those 

heartless criminals can live with themselves knowing what they do to the people whom

they suppose to protect and provide for?....

[colinneil]

25 allegedly involved in fraud, some zeros missing.

25 well at least its a start.

More committees of invisible people, stuff the committees if any person has skimmed/stolen money from any scheme, sack them/ jail them, stop playing about.

[ramrod711]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

funds were skimmed from the budget intended to help low-income families, HIV patients and the destitute. 

This would definitely be filed in the "how low can you go" category.

[Lungstib]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

according to the ministerial regulations, it could take as many as 180 days for disciplinary action to be taken.

I never cease to be amazed at how govt has a special speed at which it works against its own miscreants. Never an express one, an ultra slow one in the hope the heat dies down.

[tifino]

 

at the very least, I am in hope there will soon be 25 seats 'trading places' for some 'new' destitutes

 

[Lungstib]

2 hours ago, colinneil said:

25 allegedly involved in fraud, some zeros missing.

Right. Count the number of office staff minus the temp students. 

[Lupatria]

2 hours ago, colinneil said:

25 allegedly involved in fraud, some zeros missing.

25 well at least its a start.

More committees of invisible people, stuff the committees if any person has skimmed/stolen money from any scheme, sack them/ jail them, stop playing about.

They will claim it is another typical Thai misunderstanding, caused by mistakes in translation in their copies of "Robin Hood".

[worgeordie]

No surprise here, whenever tax payers money is involved

in any Government scheme ,leakage occurs,thats a given,

they could probe anything,where the Government is involved,

and they would find corrupt practices,stealing from the very

poor is just a new low.

regards worgeordie

[petermik]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

25 allegedly involved in fraud, some zeros missing.

25 well at least its a start.

More committees of invisible people, stuff the committees if any person has skimmed/stolen money from any scheme, sack them/ jail them, stop playing about.

T.I.T. colin and we all know a few "wai,s" in the right places coupled with "compensation" will bring the matter to a close 

The "inactive post" department will welcome any new recruits

[hansnl]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

This is a good beginning, but the idea of just 25 people being involved compared to the stories in the papers over the last little while doesn't match. What was described seemed rather larger-scale and labour intensive, and thus more people must have been  participating in the crime.

 

I literally cringe every time I see the work "committee" invoked with stories like this, but I guess that the Thais have their own way of doing things and that I need to respect that.

 

Kudos to the Nation for following up on this story, and I desperately and sincerely hope they stay on it. Robbing from the funds allocated for the destitute is a special kind of evil.

 

One final comment; the relative silence on the part of Thailand's government is deafening. This seems like a major corruption scandal, and if the story yesterday is to be believed, one that goes back for years and years. Where is the General who launched a coup against 'Corruption'? Or does this interfere with your political plans?

 

If you think it over, maybe sometimes it is better to keep mum.

Like in this case.

It is rather stupid to blame the government for things that have grown in a very long time, and may I say it, under "elected" governments.

It is refreshing to see, in the last 2-3 years how many cases are coming out.

 

[Eric Loh]

14 minutes ago, hansnl said:

If you think it over, maybe sometimes it is better to keep mum.

Like in this case.

It is rather stupid to blame the government for things that have grown in a very long time, and may I say it, under "elected" governments.

It is refreshing to see, in the last 2-3 years how many cases are coming out.

 

The documents and files are all there if the current junta government wish to investigate the past governments. Like SB said, not a word from the junta PM who boast about eradicating corruption. Chance for him to order a commission to investigate the paper trial of past government and he blew it again similar to his disinterest in Premchai's case. 

[robblok]

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

This is a good beginning, but the idea of just 25 people being involved compared to the stories in the papers over the last little while doesn't match. What was described seemed rather larger-scale and labour intensive, and thus more people must have been  participating in the crime.

 

I literally cringe every time I see the work "committee" invoked with stories like this, but I guess that the Thais have their own way of doing things and that I need to respect that.

 

Kudos to the Nation for following up on this story, and I desperately and sincerely hope they stay on it. Robbing from the funds allocated for the destitute is a special kind of evil.

 

One final comment; the relative silence on the part of Thailand's government is deafening. This seems like a major corruption scandal, and if the story yesterday is to be believed, one that goes back for years and years. Where is the General who launched a coup against 'Corruption'? Or does this interfere with your political plans?

 

The PM can't win.. if he had brought it up he would be accused by you or me of hypocrisy. So now that he does not respond he gets accused of not caring.. its a no win situation for him. 

 

Anyway 25 is not a lot... still they include some directors that is fairly high up the food chain.. i wonder if these guys will break and give up more names.

[Samui Bodoh]

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

The PM can't win.. if he had brought it up he would be accused by you or me of hypocrisy. So now that he does not respond he gets accused of not caring.. its a no win situation for him. 

 

Anyway 25 is not a lot... still they include some directors that is fairly high up the food chain.. i wonder if these guys will break and give up more names.

Respectfully, you are incorrect.

 

The PM can win. He tried to justify his coup on the basis of fighting corruption, yet when faced with pretty clear evidence of corruption (stealing from a fund targeting the destitute for God's sake!), he says nothing. If he had brought it up AND made an attempt to clean it up, I still wouldn't like him but I would give him credit IF he actually did something. Saying and doing nothing is the wrong response. Further, based on his actions, it looks to me like he is trying to build a political power base within the bureaucracy with increases in wages, better healthcare and this 'consultation' (read: free lunch) policy. In this case, the silence looks like it is taking perceived political benefits over what is right. I will condemn him for that.

 

Second, the idea that it is only 25 is wrong on a few counts. First, according to the paper yesterday and the previous stories, this seems to have been going on for years and years and even required the use of temp student workers to complete all the multitudes of paperwork. If these stories are even half true, there are a LOT more than 25 people involved. Second, 25 bureaucrats constitutes a conspiracy to me; why in heaven's name is this NOT considered enough? Finally, each story states that the investigation is both on-going and expanding; to assume that the end is near and that only 25 people were involved is not correct.

 

Have a nice day.

[wirat69]

4 hours ago, stanleycoin said:

The sad fact is,  that this sort of behavior is excepted and seen as a perk

Now, let’s accept that this is not acceptable... and not an exception!!!

[robblok]

11 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Respectfully, you are incorrect.

 

The PM can win. He tried to justify his coup on the basis of fighting corruption, yet when faced with pretty clear evidence of corruption (stealing from a fund targeting the destitute for God's sake!), he says nothing. If he had brought it up AND made an attempt to clean it up, I still wouldn't like him but I would give him credit IF he actually did something. Saying and doing nothing is the wrong response. Further, based on his actions, it looks to me like he is trying to build a political power base within the bureaucracy with increases in wages, better healthcare and this 'consultation' (read: free lunch) policy. In this case, the silence looks like it is taking perceived political benefits over what is right. I will condemn him for that.

 

Second, the idea that it is only 25 is wrong on a few counts. First, according to the paper yesterday and the previous stories, this seems to have been going on for years and years and even required the use of temp student workers to complete all the multitudes of paperwork. If these stories are even half true, there are a LOT more than 25 people involved. Second, 25 bureaucrats constitutes a conspiracy to me; why in heaven's name is this NOT considered enough? Finally, each story states that the investigation is both on-going and expanding; to assume that the end is near and that only 25 people were involved is not correct.

 

Have a nice day.

Sorry, 

 

But I am sure he would have been called a hypocrite if he went after this full swing. The people here have it out for him either way. 

 

I do however agree that 25 is not much at all provided the stories were true. If so more investigation should be done. Still the fact that it includes directors of centers is encouraging as its high up the food chain. I would love to see a better investigation. 

I often find the time it takes here to complete an investigation far too long. But I what would happen if they shorten the time.. I mean people can drag their feet by coming late to summons (see newspapers) and if it was set faster would that mean things would just not be completed.. or that people go of free as they dragged their feet long enough. Just wondering here if the time is really needed or if its made this way to allow corruption. 

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, hansnl said:

If you think it over, maybe sometimes it is better to keep mum.

Like in this case.

It is rather stupid to blame the government for things that have grown in a very long time, and may I say it, under "elected" governments.

It is refreshing to see, in the last 2-3 years how many cases are coming out.

 

Yes, it is rather stupid to post as you have done. Perhaps you should have kept mum.

 

If you had actually read my post, you would see that I did not "blame the government for things that have gone on for a long time", but rather I blamed the government for not speaking out against such practices now that they are exposed. Perhaps it is stupid to comment on a person's post without reading it?

 

Again, if you had actually read my post, nowhere did I mention "elected" governments; these are your words and not mine. Perhaps it is stupid to write a post before thinking about it? Or was it simply a case of trolling without knowledge?

 

"It is refreshing to see, in the last 2-3 years, how many cases are coming out"? Like Prawit's watches? Like Prayut's bother and sister-in-law and nephew? And hiring a special plane to visit Hawaii? And lots and lots more?

 

Perhaps it is stupid to comment without understanding the stories?

 

 

Edited March 9, 2018 by Samui Bodoh

[seajae]

again we are seeing a massive cover up as no one wants what these govt people did exposed as being corrupt, no jail time and a smack on the hand is all that will happen because the ones doing the investigating are worried they will be caught out as being corrupt as well and do not want to set anything too hard. Thailand officials cannot function without fraud because it makes their life easy, in any other country these cretins would be in jail for fraud, here they simply get a reprimand, shows how pathetic the justice is and why the country is falling to pieces, no one has the balls to actually charge the corrupt officials, seize their personal wealth and jail them, pathetic

[stanleycoin]

47 minutes ago, wirat69 said:

Now, let’s accept that this is not acceptable... and not an exception!!!

why. ?

[Samui Bodoh]

4 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Looks like when I said that "they'd steal the sugar out of your tea", I was correct.

I think they'd take the tea as well...

 

[soalbundy]

7 hours ago, Cadbury said:

I agree with you about these committees and so called sub-committees. They seem to be mysterious entities which are either designed to exposed the the truth of some story or sometimes smother the facts to suit the occasion.

It is encouraging to read this is called a "fact-finding sub-committee" which might give it a chance that some of the truth will come out. 

Hopefully none of the beneficiaries of the scam are on the sub-committee.

Yes I am surprised at this also. If there was any value in it for the PM and he had nothing to hide he would up and about blowing his bags about the integrity of his government and that he, as a crusader against corruption, will personally bring these fraudsters to justice.

But nothing.......just deafening silence! 

He is checking on all the amounts that have been paid into his account on a monthly basis, must be difficult with so many contributions coming in.

[Anak Nakal]

Every person stealing from poor people should go jail for a long, long time!

[soalbundy]

Just now, Anak Nakal said:

Every person stealing from poor people should go jail for a long, long time!

No country in the whole world has enough land to build that many prisons

[rosst]

Now these well heeled HiSo scum need to be locked up until trial and when convicted jailed for a long time and stripped of all assets and no pension or any entitlements, total filth.

[Artisi]

On ‎9‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 6:22 AM, ezzra said:

Ripping off the destitute seems so easy, these are people of almost no education, political

voice or clouts, no high powered lawyers, easy marks they are, i just wonder, how those 

heartless criminals can live with themselves knowing what they do to the people whom

they suppose to protect and provide for?....

how do they live with themselves - very easy "ME ME ME ME" 

[Oziex1]

Time for an audit on the flow of all government funds.

 

Not holding my breath for that though.