Former Tambon Administration Organisation Chief Arrested for Evading Supreme Court Verdict

Picture of arrest.

A former chief of a Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) in Buriram province has been arrested for evading a Supreme Court verdict in a case involving fraudulent procurement of blankets for winter, valued at over 400,000 Baht, despite there being no significant cold weather in the region at the time.

Police Major General Kuek Kong Disawat and Police Lieutenant Colonel Tatporn Lekawathananpong from the Highway Police Bureau apprehended 75-year-old Thongdee at a hospital parking lot in Prasat District, Surin Province. The arrest was made in accordance with an arrest warrant issued by Buriram Provincial Court, warrant number 157/2559, on 29 April 2016, charging Thongdee with “failure to attend the Supreme Court ruling hearing and suspected evasion.”

The case dates back to 2006 when Thongdee, who was then the head of a TAO in Buriram’s Mueang District, initiated a project to purchase winter blankets for local residents to protect them from the cold. The procurement process was carried out using special procedures, even though the area was not experiencing unusual cold weather. The official guidelines for such purchases require temperatures to fall below 15°C and persist for at least three consecutive days. At the time, no provincial cold weather alert had been issued, and the blanket purchase was deemed unnecessary.

Thongdee ordered the purchase of 2,305 blankets, each costing 160 Baht, totaling 368,800 Baht. This fraudulent purchase led to Thongdee facing legal action, and after years of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court sentenced him to 4 years and 8 months in prison. However, he failed to appear for the final ruling, prompting authorities to pursue his arrest.

During questioning, Thongdee admitted to his involvement in the fraudulent scheme. He has been transferred to Buriram Provincial Court for further legal proceedings.

-- 2025-03-22