webfact Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 'Politicians implicated' in Bt30m flood money embezzlement THE NATION BANGKOK: -- An ongoing investigation has suggested that up to Bt30 million - nearly half the money reimbursed for flood victims' food in four Bangkok districts - might have been embezzled during the severe inundation last year. "The investigation has implicated some politicians," Chanchai Issarasenarak yesterday said in his capacity as an adviser to the House subcommittee on budget use for flood-relief operations. Chanchai said the investigation is already 90 per cent complete and it is quite clear who were involved. "We have found that most people identified in documents as food-box suppliers in fact are those who were not involved in the services at all and were not aware their names had been abused," Chanchai said. The alleged corruption in these claims involves Bt61 million in funds allocated by the Social Development and Welfare Department for flood victims in Bangkok's Lat Krabang, Klong Sam Wa, Min Buri and Nong Chok districts. Chanchai said the Department of Special Investigation, the Revenue Department and Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission had assisted in the ongoing probe. Moreover, he said the House subcommittee found that the Cabinet on March 6 approved a huge budget for the Highways Department's construction of embankments along floodways. "To approve the budget, the Cabinet specified dike construction in many places. However, the Royal Irrigation Department has disclosed that it has not yet identified the floodways," Chanchai said. The House subcommittee has summoned Highways Department officials to testify on the issue on May 16. The budget approved for the Highways Department's construction projects on March 6 came from the massive loan the current government sought in the wake of the 2011 flood crisis. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit yesterday said he had no plan to investigate an allegation that the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) did not pay Good World Intertrade for 36,000 bags of relief items it supplied to the DPMD during the flood crisis. Each bag was worth Bt500. The company has already filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court. "I won't order a probe because the DPMD director-general has insisted a purchase order was issued," Yongyuth said. -- The Nation 2012-05-04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendejo Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Shocking accusations! Can't possibly be true! I wonder how much of the of the donations for the 2004 tsunami got snarfed as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buchholz Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 All sorts of greatly needed supplies from drinking water to boat engines were involved. Chuwit is really becoming quite the corruption buster. Daily News (article in Thai) http://www.dailynews.co.th/politics/112787 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lovetotravel Posted May 4, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2012 Love Chuwit. It'll be interesting to see if these implicated politicians ever get arrested? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animatic Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) It was only a matter of time before this corruption comes out. Props to "Uncle Chewy" for getting some of this stuff out to the public. No doubt he does have some long standing axes to grind with certain factions, but fair play, he is outing a lot of dirt and this is rarely done here. Edited May 4, 2012 by animatic 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EyesWideOpen Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) Love Chuwit. It'll be interesting to see if these implicated politicians ever get arrested? I am only amazed at the low amount. Given the umpteen millions of baht flying around, this seems like chump change. And no, there is not need to speculate whether or not politicians that were in fact robbing flood victims will be arrested. Edited May 4, 2012 by EyesWideOpen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buchholz Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) Love Chuwit. It'll be interesting to see if these implicated politicians ever get arrested? I am only amazed at the low amount. Given the umpteen millions of baht flying around, this seems like chump change. And no, there is not need to speculate whether or not politicians that were in fact robbing flood victims will be arrested. The amounts of the flood relief and prevention schemes suspected of corruption are much higher in this morning's other paper's lengthier report. . Edited May 4, 2012 by Buchholz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit yesterday said he had no plan to investigate an allegation that the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) did not pay Good World Intertrade for 36,000 bags of relief items it supplied to the DPMD during the flood crisis. Each bag was worth Bt500.The company has already filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court. "I won't order a probe because the DPMD director-general has insisted a purchase order was issued," Yongyuth said. Is this someone else who provides the Thai Government with a service and then does not get paid for it? Since when was issue of a purchase order proof of payment? One day when this country has another emergency the Government will turn to various agencies and companies for emergency equipment and everyone will say ...No! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparebox2 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I every operation, there will be about 0.1% left over. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post AleG Posted May 4, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2012 Love Chuwit. It'll be interesting to see if these implicated politicians ever get arrested? Cockroaches have an uncanny ability to make themselves scarce when a light is shone on them. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdoom6996 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Exactly as I expected when I first started to read the acticle. One man finds corruption and the other says never mind. What a way to run a country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heimdallr Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Great work Chuwit and others, really refreshing to see news like this. Now wait for the names and the following lynch mob that will go after those politicians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surayu Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) Shocking accusations! Can't possibly be true! I wonder how much of the of the donations for the 2004 tsunami got snarfed as well. 88 Million Thai Bahts, happily pocketed by the police colonel Pornprasert Kanjanarin, which is still at large, he also changed name at least 1 time and was asking for 280 Millions when he was still in charge, to be able to accomplish his job... http://www.thaivisa....-press-charges/ Edit: Further info here : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/02/national/national_30096973.php Edited May 4, 2012 by surayu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swifty5x5 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I every operation, there will be about 0.1% left over. Just where do you get that figure from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingtongfarang Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) I just cant believe somone would have the idea to put tsunami relief funds in the hands of the royal thai police But then it seems government ministers did the same as the police with flood relief money, Why am i not surprised. Edited May 4, 2012 by tingtongfarang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdecas Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Plus ça change.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomTao Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Shocking accusations! Can't possibly be true! I wonder how much of the of the donations for the 2004 tsunami got snarfed as well. People who left Phuket after the tsunami have talked about the people who were in the most desperate need got nothing while goverment officials and employees built themselves some very nice new homes, purchassed new cars and personal items that they were desperate for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomTao Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Love Chuwit. It'll be interesting to see if these implicated politicians ever get arrested? They'll be moved to inactive posts, told to sit in the corner and told how naughty they have been, then strenuously told to never do that again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker69 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Great work Chuwit and others, really refreshing to see news like this. Now wait for the names and the following lynch mob that will go after those politicians +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnAllan Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 No doubt there will be several politicians and officials rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of how much they will be able to milk from funds allocated for whatever disasters strike in 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 hey thai people and lovers, half empty / full glas situation, at least they did not steal everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginjag Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Jonclark-Earthalien, the spelling was ok, 2 hats would have been as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h90 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I every operation, there will be about 0.1% left over. just here were FULL stores which were not distributed when needed most. A video made with a cell phone camera was brought in the middle of the flood by ASTV.... So: 1) not left over 2) not 0.1 % 3) well known and enough time to improve but nothing happened 4) No excuse for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surayu Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 hey thai people and lovers, half empty / full glas situation, at least they did not steal everything ...and then the remaining half of the glass got nicked....hey but i am still alive, who cares about the glass? and then the thief come back again and kill you because there is nothing left to steal and becomes upset....but nevermind, he's still alive isn'it ??? Love & Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacksuitdandruff Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 i got a tricky riddle for all... what's the difference between the thai politicians embezzling flood relief funds and the american red cross "helping" during the u.s. katrina hurriance disaster? answer: the red cross is american. maybe thailand is more honest in their dishonesty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 No doubt there will be several politicians and officials rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of how much they will be able to milk from funds allocated for whatever disasters strike in 2012. How do you bleed a drought dry? They'll try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Profanities have been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farfetched Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) i got a tricky riddle for all... what's the difference between the thai politicians embezzling flood relief funds and the american red cross "helping" during the u.s. katrina hurriance disaster? answer: the red cross is american. maybe thailand is more honest in their dishonesty? Are you insuating that the Red Cross embezzled money during the Hurricane Katrina disaster? That sir is a moronic statement, and you are the person saying it, so what does that make you? Edited May 4, 2012 by Farfetched Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surayu Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 maybe thailand is more honest in their dishonesty? Maybe they are really more honest, or maybe they are just not caring as the way "justice" is administered here should be well known even to foreigners by now... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapout Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Politicans in Thailand depend on several doors to hide behind. The first and maybe the most effective is the lack of anyone to sort out the individual by name. There are so many "Mr. big, Mr. Influential, Mr.Connected, Mr. Highranking, Mr. Unnamed, Mr. Immunity, etc, that the officials cannot sort out the ID to match the guilty party. It is kind of like the war against drugs, we see a lot of mules/users being pointed at, we read about the officials taking credit for a job well done and all parties have recongizable photos and names. Its just the former group that seem to be teflon coated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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