An anti-corruption court has sentenced a former Ubon Ratchathani governor and several associates in a major graft case involving disaster relief funds used for pesticide procurement, with the primary defendant receiving a total prison term of 27 years. The ruling was delivered on 15 June and reported on 21 June 2026, marking a significant conclusion to a long-running investigation into alleged abuse of state emergency budgets.

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The case, brought by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), centred on allegations that officials misused disaster relief allocations intended for emergency agricultural assistance. Between 2010 and 2012, authorities approved repeated disaster declarations in Ubon Ratchathani province, including the Khemmarat district, despite findings that some areas did not experience unusually severe pest outbreaks beyond normal seasonal conditions. These declarations enabled large-scale procurement of chemical products under emergency spending frameworks for fiscal year 2011.

Investigators found evidence suggesting that the procurement process was manipulated to favour specific bidders, in breach of fair competition rules under Thai procurement law. The court considered multiple legal provisions, including sections 149, 151 and 157 of the Criminal Code, as well as legislation governing public procurement offences and anti-corruption regulations. The court ruled that offences constituted single acts violating multiple laws.

Several defendants received custodial sentences of varying lengths. The former governor, listed as defendant 10, was convicted on multiple counts of accepting or soliciting unlawful benefits in connection with official duties, resulting in a combined sentence of 27 years in prison. Other defendants received sentences ranging from two to 18 years, depending on their level of involvement, with some having sentences reduced due to guilty pleas that were considered beneficial to the proceedings.

The court also ordered financial restitution. Multiple defendants were instructed to jointly repay a total of 1,999,000 baht and 1,497,650 baht to Ubon Ratchathani provincial authorities, amounting to approximately 3.4 million baht. Several accused individuals were acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence.

Matichon reported that authorities have stated that the ruling reinforces accountability standards in the management of public disaster relief funds, while further legal steps may follow depending on appeals lodged by the defendants.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Matichon 22 June 2026

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That's good, but you know what? Eliminating these people doesn't solve the deeply rooted structural problems in this country. So why not investigate or remove the people currently in the government as well?"

I wonder who this guy upset (or didn't pay) enough to get this far in the criminal justice system. I suspect this guy is the very smallest of tips of the largest of icebergs though.

27 years for 3.4 million baht seems a bit excessive to me. 😵‍💫

11 hours ago, johng said:

27 years for 3.4 million baht seems a bit excessive to me. 😵‍💫

How much suffering was caused by the disaster relief funds being diverted by hiim?

It sounds like this guy should be in line for a promotion .....Come on, corruption is every where in Thailand...I sure there are countless more current cases....2010 was 16 years ago..

One down, a few hundred more to follow?

Not so long ago, a new nearby provincial governor was appointed. The spouse of a friend worked in the governor's office. Over dinner one evening, my friend told me that the new governor recently held his first "official" meeting, and I was asked to guess who the meeting was with. "Head of Police" - no. "Local military commander" - no. "Local politicians" - no. I give up. His reply - "Local big mafia boss".