B2m In Tsunami Aid ‘disappears’

RDN · February 16, 2005

B2m in tsunami aid ‘disappears’

PHUKET: -- More than two million baht intended for tsunami victims has gone missing from a safe in Provincial Hall.

The theft was reported to police yesterday by Metha Mekarat, Chief of the Phuket Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM).

Altogether, 2,050,000 baht is missing from the safe, which is in a strongroom at Provincial Hall.

K. Metha said that since the tsunami, the ODPM has received five consignments of cash from Bangkok, totalling 45 million baht, to be distributed to those affected by the disaster.

“[Each time] the money, in a cardboard box, would be put it in the safe in the strongroom in Provincial Hall,” he explained. “OPDM officer Soralak Theipput and I are the only people known to have keys to the safe.”

He added that the strong room is a restricted area, to which only certain officers have access.

K. Metha said he realised there was a problem on Friday, when K. Sor alak told him there was just 350,000 baht in the safe. The last time K. Soralak had checked, on February 3, there had been 2.4 million baht.

The ODPM Chief added that his staff had checked, several times, the amount of money received and paid out, but had found no errors that would account for the missing millions.

He added that both he and K. Soralak are cooperating willingly with police officers investigating the disappearance of the money.

Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura said that he had already notified Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula and had assigned Vice Governor Supachai Yuvaboon to set up a commission to investigate the disappearance.

The Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, Pol Col Kokiat Wongvorachart, said investigators were reviewing video surveillance tapes from the area around the strong room and would question everyone who appeared on them.

He added that he expected an arrest to be made very soon.

--Phuket Gazette 2005-02-16

Edited February 16, 2005 by george

Ajarn · February 16, 2005

He added that he expected an arrest to be made very soon

Of course.

RDN · February 16, 2005

...The theft was reported to police yesterday by Metha Mekarat, Chief of the Phuket Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM)....
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Didn't do much to prevent this disaster. 2 million baht is about 25 years wages to someone on 200 baht a day. You'd think they'd make absolutely sure they had all the keys to the safe or put the money in a bank account, where it might earn some interest.

dvk1951 · February 16, 2005

...The theft was reported to police yesterday by Metha Mekarat, Chief of the Phuket Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM)....
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Didn't do much to prevent this disaster. 2 million baht is about 25 years wages to someone on 200 baht a day. You'd think they'd make absolutely sure they had all the keys to the safe or put the money in a bank account, where it might earn some interest.

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Wouldn't this make a nice contribution to the "Thai Logic" thread

sriracha john · February 16, 2005

Perhaps it was some of the money that has ended up in the Deep South militant's hands...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=27529&hl=

britmaveric · February 16, 2005

I'd check their pockets first!!!

The_Moog · February 16, 2005

Ok, this is not a story also. !!!!

Whoopsie.

Trillions and billions missing elsewhere in other State accounts

US$ 50 k Mai pen rai.

Stop distracting us Thaksin.

george · February 16, 2005

Surprise.

Phil Conners · February 16, 2005

If anyone who has been in Thailand more than a few months are the least bit surprised they need their head examined.

lemon · February 16, 2005

yeah i agree madsere - i mean, let's face it hands up anyone not expecting something like that to happen...billions have been donated for this - it must be a sore temptation for a few wicked souls to rob a bit outa the till...

Maejo Man · February 16, 2005

I wonder what took them so long

Shola · February 16, 2005

Light fingered f*****s,

Soooooooo NOT surprized.

Rhys · February 16, 2005

And Guess what happens next?

astral · February 17, 2005

They kept it in their safe..................

Haven't they heard of banks??

tezzainoz · February 17, 2005

Security was High priority Thai

Cardboard box with sticky tape

ChrisP · February 17, 2005

“[

... the money, in a cardboard box,

Wonder if it said "Tsunami Appeal Donations" on the label...?

(And was sent on the bus..)

ChrisP

phuketrichard · February 17, 2005

I know one thing for certain, NOT one baht has ended up in anyones hand here in kamala.

Goverment officals will gte rich off this , but we all knew that. :-)

Artisi · February 17, 2005

Must be a genuine mistake - there will have to be an error in the accounting somewhere - how could 2M Bht kept in a cardboard box in a safe with keys access in a room in city hall go missing - really make you wonder doesn't it.

LadyinRed · February 17, 2005

I am not surprised to hear this.

Money has been reported missing elsewhere outside of Thailand.

My only regrets is telling concerned friends and relatives to donate to the Red Cross when it hit. I should have done more background research.

Doctor John · February 17, 2005

I am not surprised to hear this.
Money has been reported missing elsewhere outside of Thailand.

My only regrets is telling concerned friends and relatives to donate to the Red Cross when it hit. I should have done more background research.

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Lady in red, you are right, money has gone missing in other places , not only Thailand. But this will give the Thai people bashers something to moan about again, like it does not happen in their own countries, yea right.

UK, USA, Australia are corruption free zones full of honest people, makes you wonder why their prison systems are close to breaking point though.

For the Thais to actually come out with this statement about missing money is commendable, in the West it would just be covered up.

BlackJack · February 17, 2005

add to this all the rings, watches, jewelery, personal effects, found, missing, or handed in.

where is it all

LadyinRed · February 17, 2005

add to this all the rings, watches, jewelery, personal effects, found, missing, or handed in.
where is it all

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Yeah this is all so sick

yeti · February 17, 2005

The only part I don't understand:

K. Sor alak told him there was just 350,000 baht in the safe. The last time K. Soralak had checked, on February 3, there had been 2.4 million baht.

Why the ###### did they leave 350k ?

Erwin1011 · February 17, 2005

The only part I don't understand:
K. Sor alak told him there was just 350,000 baht in the safe. The last time K. Soralak had checked, on February 3, there had been 2.4 million baht.

Why the ###### did they leave 350k ?

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Out of feelings of true charity

andywood · February 17, 2005

The only part I don't understand:
K. Sor alak told him there was just 350,000 baht in the safe. The last time K. Soralak had checked, on February 3, there had been 2.4 million baht.

Why the ###### did they leave 350k ?

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The 350k was in a crisp packet (seaweed flavor) and so over looked.

Amethyst · February 17, 2005

This is all a work from the insight...2 million Baht well ...they should have put it in the Bank....This is just Act of some1 Stupid...$$$ in the safe box its just a piece of cake for some 1 to just take it...Just look at the Movie Ocean Eleven,or Italaian Job,This is what inspired people to do the job...I think there must be some1 out there that have the idea from those movies....The Thais authotities should be more aleart....

Bottom of the story this must be work from the insight

toastwars · February 17, 2005

It will be blamed on the "restless spirit" that somone will now claim to have seen. And will all be sorted out by moving the vault to a better lit and more promanent area. Now thats Thai logic!!!

Gazza · February 17, 2005

Just look at the Movie Ocean Eleven,or Italaian Job,This is what inspired people to do the job...I think there must be some1 out there that have the idea from those movies....The Thais authotities should be more aleart....

This then should give the Thai police some useful leads.

Look for eleven Thai guys driving white striped minis being chased by the mastermind shouting "I didn't tell you to blow the fcukin' lid off the cardboard box!".

Edited February 17, 2005 by Gazza

cutter007 · February 17, 2005

This is your standard Thai political distraction. 100's of millions of baht will of course go "missing". So if you are a Thai politician what gift do you give the voters as a thank you for their contribution to your retirement plan. You quickly announce that a small amount of money has been lost. (shows that you are being honest and open about your mistakes). Then you quickly find someone, and arrest them (showing that you are smarter than the criminals, and are in complete control). End result, voters are assured that all the money is going to the right places, and every baht has been accounted for, while quietly adding another 100 million baht to a few families vast holdings.

Phil Conners · February 17, 2005

Lady in red, you are right, money has gone missing in other places , not only Thailand. But this will give the Thai people bashers something to moan about again, like it does not happen in their own countries, yea right.

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You must have very little knowledge about how open and transparent issues like this are handled in the western world. Maybe 3rd world areas like Asia, Africa, South America but you would NEVER have something like this happen anywhere in the west. Sheesh.

Edited February 17, 2005 by madsere

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