Graft busters probe 77 cases in Phuket

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Graft busters probe 77 cases in Phuket

PHUKET: -- The chief of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket office revealed today the office is investigating no fewer than 77 cases of corruption involving government officials.

Officials in four government departments are involved in just three cases relating to the issue of illegitimate papers for land in Sirinat Marine National Park.

The NACC chief, Tawichat Nillakan, told The Phuket News that 20 per cent of the cases are about land.

Seventy per cent involve misuse of public funds and corruption in hiring and promoting staff at tambon administration organisations (OrBorTor).

The remaining 10 per cent are related to embezzlement of funds in the Education and Finance Departments in Phuket.

“The first of the three cases relating to Sirinart Park land involves 10-15 government officials from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior, the Land Department and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). It also involves local officials [village heads and kamnan].

“The second case is being checked by the NACC using aerial photographs. The DNP reported it to the police in 2011. However, the event involving someone issuing illegal land papers in 1987 so [the crime] has exceeded the statute of limitations [so no one can be prosecuted for criminal acts].

“The national park reported it too late. [However] the NACC can still proceed with disciplinary action and withdraw the land paper.”

The NACC must use aerial photographs to identify whether the land is within the national park or not. If it finds sufficient reason for the land paper to be withdrawn, it will order the Land Department to do so.

“The investigation team are arriving soon to continue the case. The head of the NACC is going to sign the order today or tomorrow.”

Mr Tawichat said that the facts and information in the third case are still being checked.

“Right now I’m handling another case. It’s similar to the second one. The national park reported it to the police late, so the statute of limitations deadline has been exceeded.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/graft-busters-probe-77-cases-in-phuket-47501.php


-- Phuket News 2014-07-24

[KarenBravo]

"Seventy per cent involve misuse of public funds and corruption in hiring and promoting staff at tambon administration organisations (OrBorTor)".

Seems like the rats are turning cannibal.

[Oziex1]

I fail to understand the dithering on determining the location of these plots, there in the park or they are not, how hard can it be to locate these plots. What a joke.

[craigt3365]

A post violating forum rules has been removed from view and a member warned. Specifically, this rule:

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[Mr00Farang]

The Phuket Penninsula plot was very telling. It was largely built by 2008 but never completed. It was a beauty of a project - all 130 rooms were suites and all seaview, some with private plunge pools.

The land title deeds were never quite right and as a result, the financing and licensing were problematic. There are lawsuits involving Thai publicly trade companies one can read about in the notes of annual reports. The structure burned down last year.

The developer lost her shirt. The banks lost, private investors lost, and some foolish Thai company still own deeds on the underlying land. And I think they carry the asset on their books.

Not a soul has been punished.

I was familiar with the area and I recall in 2008 that I looked for it on Google Earth and could not find it, as the satellite pictures predated the construction.

What the Google Earth images showed in 2008 was pretty much virgin hillside coastline.

Just saying....

Edited July 25, 2014 by Mr00Farang

[Guest]

"Seventy per cent involve misuse of public funds and corruption in hiring and promoting staff at tambon administration organisations (OrBorTor)".

Seems like the rats are turning cannibal.

Public offices might also have a layer of non/low-corrupted officials who have now chance to get up while the most corrupted officers are being pushed down.