Another 189 officials under probe for graft

By PIYANUCH THAMNUKASETCHAI, 
NATTHAPAT PHROMKAEW 
THE NATION

 

 

THE PUBLIC Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has launched probes into alleged wrongdoings by an additional 189 officials in the embezzlement of state funds for the destitute.

 

Of the targeted officials, 42 are heads of protection centres for the destitute.

 

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry has operated such centres across the country, allocating funds to sustain the lives of the profoundly vulnerable and underprivileged. However, a university student detected irregularities in fund disbursement during her internship at the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute and blew the whistle late last year.

 

Now, the investigation has been expanded to cover all such centres across the country. PACC member Pol General Jarumporn Suramanee said the PACC at its latest meeting resolved to set up sub-panels to launch investigations of 189 officials. These officials work at 42 protection centres for the destitute, one coordination centre, and one self-development centre.

 

Jarumporn said the PACC was also set to review the report from an investigation on the disbursement of state funds for the destitute in eight provinces – Yala, Phatthalung, Loei, Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et and Chon Buri.

 

“The Office of PACC is also in the process of investigating the use of the funds in 19 other provinces,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, police yesterday officially called on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate alleged bidding collusion in the procurement of vacuum trucks by several local administrative bodies.

 

Pol Colonel Chak Pengsathorn, a deputy chief of the police force’s Counter Corruption Division, personally handed over the investigation report to the NACC. Running into about 60,000 pages, the report covers alleged irregularities in the procurement in Nonthaburi, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Sing Buri, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Chon Buri and Rayong provinces.

 

Forty officials and seven companies have been accused of wrongdoing“.

 

For the companies, seven chairmen and eight directors should be held responsible,” Chak said, adding that damages are estimated at Bt65 million.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344147

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-28

1 minute ago, rooster59 said:

THE PUBLIC Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has launched probes into alleged wrongdoings by an additional 189 officials in the embezzlement of state funds for the destitute.

 

Of the targeted officials, 42 are heads of protection centres for the destitute.

 

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry has operated such centres across the country, allocating funds to sustain the lives of the profoundly vulnerable and underprivileged.

 

I hope that there is truly a special place in hell for those who would steal from the destitute; I can't think of a more heinous crime.

 

Way to go, PACC! After seemingly being in a coma or something for many, many years, it appears that you have woken up and got back on the job; keep it up!

 

10 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

THE PUBLIC Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has launched probes into alleged wrongdoings by an additional 189 officials in the embezzlement of state funds for the destitute.

not 1 or 2 or 3, 189 additional that have been exposed so far, that we are made aware of;

and all this exposed by quasi accident, a good moraled whistleblower;

using the tip-of-the-iceberg analogy, imagine what else is out there in this and other like programs

15 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

I hope that there is truly a special place in hell for those who would steal from the destitute; I can't think of a more heinous crime.

 

Way to go, PACC! After seemingly being in a coma or something for many, many years, it appears that you have woken up and got back on the job; keep it up!

 

Yea much more corruption has been uncovered investigated in the last year then in many years before. I never seen it get investigated on a scale like this. 

Might as well probe the lot.... probably a large percentage involved one way or another. But who would do the investigating? As a retiring head of the (small) department investigating graft within the police force said years ago, "Old crabs can't teach young crabs to walk straight."

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by Aj Mick

Just now, YetAnother said:

not 1 or 2 or 3, 189 additional that have been exposed so far, that we are made aware of;

and all this exposed by quasi accident, a good moraled whistleblower;

using the tip-of-the-iceberg analogy, imagine what else is out there in this and other like programs

Quite right. If it hadn't been for the uni student worker who pointed the finger the scam would have still been rolling merrily along and no one would be any the wiser. Such is the quality of the Thai audit process.

As for other programmes, the 100 billion bht Thai Niyom populist scheme is ripe for the plucking by civil servants and corrupt provincial administrators and village leaders, or by just about everyone involved except the intended recipients.

Creative accounting on a viral scale, this is a swamp that needs draining unfortunately the NACC appear to have fallen in.

A bigger surprize would be that they found someone who was not corrupt,

Thailand seems to have come to a new low,before there was corruption

involving Schools,uniforms,milk supply, corruption stealing from  the poor.

and now widespread stealing of  funds meant for the destitute,which is horrendous.

 

Those found guilty,and i hope this goes right to the top,need to be punished

very severely,in the hope a message gets out that this is never acceptable and

should never happen again.............but it will,because corruption is engrained

in Thailand.

regards worgeordie

Why don't you save us all time and tell us which are the officials that

who ARE NOT engaged in corruption of any kind...

I'm sure it will be a very short read...

22 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Creative accounting on a viral scale, this is a swamp that needs draining unfortunately the NACC appear to have fallen in.

Even if they drained the swamp it just get's filled with more dirty water.

30 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

A bigger surprize would be that they found someone who was not corrupt,

Thailand seems to have come to a new low,before there was corruption

involving Schools,uniforms,milk supply, corruption stealing from  the poor.

and now widespread stealing of  funds meant for the destitute,which is horrendous.

 

Those found guilty,and i hope this goes right to the top,need to be punished

very severely,in the hope a message gets out that this is never acceptable and

should never happen again.............but it will,because corruption is engrained

in Thailand.

regards worgeordie

 

Agree, please amend the law, retroactive to make  a minimum 20 years jail sentence plus confiscation of everything, plus 10 days shaming on a special new TV program, and barred from any connection / position / discussion related to government or parliamentary activities. 

 

 

 

Put student in every program. 

Only student are honest.

6 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Agree, please amend the law, retroactive to make  a minimum 20 years jail sentence plus confiscation of everything, plus 10 days shaming on a special new TV program, and barred from any connection / position / discussion related to government or parliamentary activities. 

 

 

 

The confiscation of the money made from corruption is important even if it bankrupts the person who was corrupt. They did it right with the fake G2G deals that were done under the rice program not only did they end up in jail they had to pay back the money too. Now apply this to all and see how it cleans up the country. 

Jeez is there actually anyone in this department who was not on the make.

8 hours ago, robblok said:

Yea much more corruption has been uncovered investigated in the last year then in many years before. I never seen it get investigated on a scale like this. 

While investigations are a good thing, they do not amount to a hill of beans, unless these worms are arrested, and sentenced to something they deserve. Stealing from the poor is about as low as it gets. These clowns deserve decades in prison. Will that happen? Will we see justice? If one truth can be spoken about this administration, it is that they are extremely weak on follow up, and rarely do their words get followed up by real, lasting, meaningful action. 

 

All talk and no action makes the general a very dull boy indeed. Let us hope for some real action. To date, the PACC has been a fabulously unimpressive organization. 

Seize their assets, make the officials family live like the poor the money was supposed to help. lesson learnt. 

11 hours ago, robblok said:

Yea much more corruption has been uncovered investigated in the last year then in many years before. I never seen it get investigated on a scale like this. 

 

Yes, and what's the outcome of any of it that we ever hear?

 

Any senior government officials been sentenced to jail for corruption lately?  Any senior government officials been FIRED from their jobs lately for corruption, instead of being sent to inactive posts?

 

The Thais are big on launching so-called investigations into things. Not so much on actually taking any meaningful action at the end of the line.

 

 

Graft???  THEFT!

12 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Yes, and what's the outcome of any of it that we ever hear?

 

Any senior government officials been sentenced to jail for corruption lately?  Any senior government officials been FIRED from their jobs lately for corruption, instead of being sent to inactive posts?

 

The Thais are big on launching so-called investigations into things. Not so much on actually taking any meaningful action at the end of the line.

 

 

I agree convictions need to happen, but your being a bit unrealistic here. I am not sure but i think like me you have been in this country a long time. Even the rice program graft investigation + court-cases (and they were fast tracked) took years to expect this to be done now is just not realistic. I have seen much more action in the last year than in a long time. I can only applaud this.  

When people go jail, it serious.

Until? No.

Sorry <deleted>  in the same story has buying road sweepers have to do with officials ripping off the poor ? Do that in other news 

I wonder who will investigate the investigators 

On 4/28/2018 at 8:28 AM, Anak Nakal said:

Put student in every program. 

Only student are honest.

I hope and pray that this young girl has a a good contingent of security 24/7.