Poor centre theft total tops B100m

Graftbusters i nvestigating systematic embezzlement of funds from protection centres for the destitute say the total amount stolen now exceeds 100 million baht, with the theft occurring in 49 provinces.

Lt Col Kornthip Daroj, secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said yesterday that from Feb 13 to March 18 investigators found that 104 million baht allocated to help the poor in 49 provinces had been misappropriated, or 85% of the centres’ budgets.

Fraud came in various forms, Lt Col Kornthip said. There were aid applications with completely fake documents, applications with both genuine and fake documents and aid applications for people who did not qualify for aid.

Those whose names were listed as recipients either received no money or only partial assistance. In some cases, officials who misappropriated aid told recipients to lie to investigators by telling them they had received what was due to them.

Corruption was reported in provinces across the country, including Chiang Rai in the North, Yala in the South, Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast and Tak in the West. The investigation is continuing.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam insisted yesterday officials found guilty of committing offences in this case would be subject to strict punishment, and expected the PACC wrap its probe up within the next two months.

The fraud came to light in Khon Kaen in January. It was exposed by a group of Maha Sarakham University students, one of whom was later assaulted by a professor at the university for blowing the whistle.

They were told to fill in forms and fake signatures on receipts for 2,000 villagers amounting to nearly 7 million baht while working as interns at the Khon Kaen Protection for the Destitute Centre last year. The students claimed the centre chief and some senior officials ordered them to do it.

The money was intended for distribution to poor people, low-income earners and HIV/Aids patients in the province.

The PACC is also looking into alleged irregularities in state financial assistance worth 33 million baht for villagers in four self-help settlement areas.