Seven high-ranking officials liable in ‘children’s fund graft’ scandal, says ministry

[webfact]

Seven high-ranking officials liable in ‘children’s fund graft’ scandal, says ministry

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

AT LEAST seven high-ranking officials should be held responsible for damages from corruption involving a fund for underprivileged children, a probe by the Education Ministry has concluded.
 

“These seven are still in service. Their ranks range from C8 to C11,” the ministry’s inspector Atthapon Treuktrong said, as chairman of the fact-finding committee. 

 

C11 is the highest rank in Thailand’s bureaucrat system. 

 

The committee was established to look into alleged irregularities in the Educational Fund for Life Development, following reports that nearly Bt100 million had been illegally channelled to undeserving recipients. Initially, the damages were estimated at Bt88 million but an investigation suggests the amount could be higher. 

 

This week, the committee revealed that a total of 25 current and retired officials were found to have committed wrongdoing related to the scandal. “Most of them engaged in negligence but some are directly involved in corruption,” Atthapon said on Monday. 

 

He said the next step was to take further actions, including civil proceedings for compensation, against each accused official and retiree. 

 

In the wake of the scandal, only one official – Rojana Sintee – has admitted wrongdoing. She has already been fired. 

 

The alleged embezzlement of funds has reportedly dragged on for more than a decade. Although complaints had been sent to the Education Ministry several times, Rojana had apparently intercepted and responded to each complaint with false explanations, concealing the scandal until this year. 

 

Atthapon said his committee would dig deeper and submit more reports to relevant authorities. 

 

“To date, the Anti-Money Laundering Office’s probe into financial flows has covered transactions between 2011 and 2018 only. We will have to go back further,” Atthapon said. 

 

Meanwhile, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) probe into alleged corruption involving state funds for the destitute under the care of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, has found grounds to take action against at least 217 officials. 

 

The number of implicated officials continues to rise as the PACC probe has expanded to cover the disbursement of funds across the country. 

 

Late last month, the number stood at 189.

 

“We will forward the list of the implicated officials to their agencies so that disciplinary actions can be taken. These accused officials should also be transferred,” PACC acting secretary general Pol Lt Colonel Korntip Daroj said. 

 

He also gave an update about the investigation into the Bt200,000 procurement of blankets for elderly people in Sing Buri province. “At this point, we have found that blankets were bought at Bt400 apiece, higher than the market price,” he said. 

 

Korntip said the probe would check whether the blankets were needed in Sing Buri. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344908

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-09

[Samui Bodoh]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said the next step was to take further actions, including civil proceedings for compensation, against each accused official and retiree. 

"Civil proceedings for compensation"? Why not "Criminal proceedings"?

 

They are thieves. Dishonorable thieves. Lying, dishonorable thieves. They are criminals. They are thieving, lying, dishonorable criminals.  

 

If I robbed a 7-11, I would go to jail. Why would these thieves not be treated the same?

 

These people stole money from a children's fund. Throw their assess in jail!

 

If bureaucrats never actually pay a price for their crimes, they will continue to commit them. Until bureaucrats go to jail, loudly and publicly, then catching them will never be a deterrent, rather it will be an incentive; why not steal from children if all that happens is that you just give the money back?

 

The purpose of criminal punishment is to deter future crime.

 

Does the Thai bureaucracy and/or Thai law-enforcement not get that?

 

 

Edited May 8, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee and general anger

[bluesofa]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said the next step was to take further actions, including civil proceedings for compensation, against each accused official and retiree.

In plain English: We will hear no more about it once the story has slipped from public interest,

 

[mok199]

i cant even imagine how many civil servants are employed in Thailand with 76 provinces and so many municipalities and sub districts....transparency is almost impossible..every form creates an opportunity...

Edited May 8, 2018 by mok199
speliings

[George Bowman]

Let’s pretend that there is a civil employee whose main job is diverting 30% of the department's annual budget to civil servants higher up the food chain. Been doing it for years. The aggravation comes from determining from who and how much.

 

 

Edited May 8, 2018 by missoura

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Seven high-ranking officials liable

to skip the country taking their bank balances with them.  Why do Thai authorities feel the need to tip off the criminals in advance of their arrest?  Then the offenders are granted BAIL!

[colinneil]

Seven high ranking officials liable, the rest are being protected by other high ranking officials, who have already covered up their wrongdoing for a small consideration.

 

 

 

[robblok]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"Civil proceedings for compensation"? Why not "Criminal proceedings"?

 

They are thieves. Dishonorable thieves. Lying, dishonorable thieves. They are criminals. They are thieving, lying, dishonorable criminals.  

 

If I robbed a 7-11, I would go to jail. Why would these thieves not be treated the same?

 

These people stole money from a children's fund. Throw their assess in jail!

 

If bureaucrats never actually pay a price for their crimes, they will continue to commit them. Until bureaucrats go to jail, loudly and publicly, then catching them will never be a deterrent, rather it will be an incentive; why not steal from children if all that happens is that you just give the money back?

 

The purpose of criminal punishment is to deter future crime.

 

Does the Thai bureaucracy and/or Thai law-enforcement not get that?

 

 

Agreed should be criminal proceedings just like they did with YL and her minions in the rice program. That is the way to do it making them pay it all back and putting them in jail. 

[stanleycoin]

Even if a few get sold down the river.  let's hope it's jail time, for them.

Embezzlement,   is just a posh word for Thief. 

 

 

Edited May 9, 2018 by stanleycoin

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"Civil proceedings for compensation"? Why not "Criminal proceedings"?

 

They are thieves. Dishonorable thieves. Lying, dishonorable thieves. They are criminals. They are thieving, lying, dishonorable criminals.  

 

If I robbed a 7-11, I would go to jail. Why would these thieves not be treated the same?

 

These people stole money from a children's fund. Throw their assess in jail!

 

If bureaucrats never actually pay a price for their crimes, they will continue to commit them. Until bureaucrats go to jail, loudly and publicly, then catching them will never be a deterrent, rather it will be an incentive; why not steal from children if all that happens is that you just give the money back?

 

The purpose of criminal punishment is to deter future crime.

 

Does the Thai bureaucracy and/or Thai law-enforcement not get that?

 

 

 

 

"They are thieves. Dishonorable thieves. Lying, dishonorable thieves. They are criminals. They are thieving, lying, dishonorable criminals.  " ...   with the morals of an alligator.

 

 

[Juan B Tong]

[Cadbury]

1 hour ago, stanleycoin said:

Even if a few get sold down the river.  let's hope it's jail time, for them.

Embezzlement,   is just a posh word for Thief. 

 

 

No jail time I am afraid. It is an "in-house" civil service investigation by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). It is the public sector investigating the public sector. No police are involved. Don't expect criminal charges.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

In the wake of the scandal, only one official – Rojana Sintee – has admitted wrongdoing. She has already been fired. 

The one and only person who has admitted guilt has been sacked. I suspect that's about as harsh as the punishment will get. Nothing stopping her now from unloading her assets and disappearing.

The PACC may well be doing a good job with the investigation but the proof of the pudding will be in the punishment. And that might be the equivalent to a good whipping with a feather.

[tracker1]

Only 7 Hmmmm

[Anak Nakal]

Put in jail.

lose key.

[ChrisY1]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

to skip the country taking their bank balances with them.  Why do Thai authorities feel the need to tip off the criminals in advance of their arrest?  Then the offenders are granted BAIL!

Thainess......not good for people to lose face....but corruption is acceptable as long as it's not made public.

[Khun Paul]

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Posted 5 hours ago

Seven high-ranking officials liable in ‘children’s fund graft’ scandal, says ministry

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

AT LEAST seven high-ranking officials should be held responsible for damages from corruption involving a fund for underprivileged children, a probe by the Education Ministry has concluded.

 

 

 

 

Naturally..........BUT ONLY 7 !!!!!!!!! .......obviously scapegoats for ALL those others that have got away with it . 

[bluesofa]

54 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

No jail time I am afraid. It is an "in-house" civil service investigation by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). It is the public sector investigating the public sector. No police are involved. Don't expect criminal charges.

 

The one and only person who has admitted guilt has been sacked. I suspect that's about as harsh as the punishment will get. Nothing stopping her now from unloading her assets and disappearing.

The PACC may well be doing a good job with the investigation but the proof of the pudding will be in the punishment. And that might be the equivalent to a good whipping with a feather.

 

As I write this I wonder if I'm asking a pointless question:

Has there ever been a PACC investigation in the past that has resulted in criminal prosecution and jail time?

 

[300sd]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“We will forward the list of the implicated officials to their agencies so that disciplinary actions can be taken. These accused officials should also be transferred,” PACC acting secretary general Pol Lt Colonel Korntip Daroj said. 

If this is all you want to happen then I suggest the PACC look into the backgrounds of some Pol Lt Colonel's!

Edited May 9, 2018 by 300sd
spelling

[bluesofa]

42 minutes ago, tracker1 said:

Only 7 Hmmmm

If all the civil servants in the country involved in corruption - aka stealing - surely there wouldn't be enough jail space to put all these people.

 

The term 'civil servant' has always baffled me by its very irony. A lot of them are anything but 'civil' and when asked for information, virtually none of them see themselves as answerable to the public in the  term 'servant'.

 

[RichardColeman]

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"Civil proceedings for compensation"? Why not "Criminal proceedings"?

Maybe as bankrupting them and taking there money away in a civil court hits their livelihood, standing and ego far more than a year in a prison

[thaichiro]

The brown envelopes should be flying with this one!

[thaichiro]

The problem is that there is no accountability with government spending until someone doesn’t get their “fair” share and drops a dime on the scheme. The same is true in the US where over 30% of the DOD spending can’t be accounted for, and nobody is held responsible!

[AsiaHand]

And this is a surprise or even news ?

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Does the Thai bureaucracy and/or Thai law-enforcement not get that?

 

No-one cares because it doesn't affect them directly. That's the Thai way. They aren't involved so they don't get involved. And anyway, a poll a few years ago showed that a majority of Thais have no problem with corruption.

[Destiny1990]

French i phone thief will get 1-2 years jail.

these guys stole millions and millions from poor kids for a period of 10-15 years and maybe get Transfered or loose their job at most.

[Lucky mike]

So much for transparency and investigated by their own people makes for a giant coverup ?