Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A court has sentenced former head of finance at Nong Thao Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, Nakhon Phanom, Mr Pisit, to an initial 517 years in prison for embezzling public funds from community economic projects. The judgement was handed down by the Central and Regional Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Mr Pisit was also ordered to repay 12,835,133.56 baht to the local administration.

 

The case dates back to 9 October 2024, when the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) arrested Mr Pisit under warrant 97/2563 issued by Nakhon Phanom Provincial Court on 28 September 2020. Mr Pisit, while serving as head of finance, misappropriated funds over multiple occasions, including 178,262 baht from community economic projects, 71,352.36 baht from land and building taxes and 16,500,000 baht via unauthorised cheque payments. The misconduct spanned from 30 September 2005 to 28 November 2007.

 

Investigators traced Mr Pisit to a timber factory in Nakhon Luang district, Ayutthaya province, after he had fled the area. He was apprehended on 27 March 2025 at Phachi intersection in Ayutthaya while driving a pick-up truck with an accomplice. The arrest followed careful surveillance and coordination with local police to ensure capture.

 

The court found Mr Pisit guilty under multiple counts of official misconduct and embezzlement under The Penal Code Sections 147, 151, and 157, applying Section 91(3) to combine sentences. Each of the 207 counts carried a 5-year sentence, reduced to 2 years 6 months per count for admitting guilt, resulting in a total sentence of 517 years, with a maximum effective imprisonment of 50 years.

 

Officials highlighted the case as a significant example of accountability for corruption within local government. Legal experts note that such long-term sentences, though largely symbolic, emphasise the seriousness of embezzlement in public office and aim to deter similar misconduct. The repayment of over 12 million baht partially restores the losses incurred by the local administration.

 

Mr Pisit’s case will continue to be monitored for enforcement of the sentence and full recovery of embezzled funds. Authorities are also reviewing other transactions from the period to identify any additional irregularities. The NACC and regional police units remain engaged in broader anti-corruption measures across the province.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Former Nong Thao finance head jailed 50 years for embezzling 16.75 million baht.

• The court ordered repayment of 12,835,133.56 baht to the local administration.

• Authorities plan continued monitoring to enforce the sentence and investigate related misconduct.

 

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Two-it-executives-arrested-for-79m-tax-fraud

 

Patum-Thani-official-arrested-for-bribery-over-building-permits

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-09-14

 

 

 

 

On 9/13/2025 at 2:25 PM, Georgealbert said:

A court has sentenced former head of finance at Nong Thao Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, Nakhon Phanom, Mr Pisit, to an initial 517 years in prison

 

555, A punishment well deserved....