Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, an anti-corruption organization, claimed costs for personal use of a federal vehicles.
PUBLISHED: 27 Jun 2024 at 16: 54
Officials said on Thursday that the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC ) is looking into a former director-general of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency ( Gistda ) in connection with personal use of an official vehicle.
NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol discovered that Anont Sanitwong na Ayutthaya claimed personal travel costs of more than 250, 000 ringgit despite using an agency vehicles as his official car as he led Gistda between 2013 and 2015.
Mr. Anont requested a request to use an agency vehicle for his specific use when he took office in 2013, according to Mr. Niwatchai, the then-director of the core administrative section at Gistda.
Ms Niramon approved the demand, and even reimbursed gas prices, toll charges and other traveling expenses throughout Mr Anont’s moment as chairman. Between December 2013 and November 2015, the payouts totalled 254, 685 ringgit, according to the NACC.
The requests were approved despite the fact that under Mr Anont’s work deal, he was privy to benefits equivalent 37, 500 ringgit on top of his monthly income of 150, 000 ringgit, to go towards covering his traveling expenses.
As per the regulations governing the use of state vehicles, Mr. Anont was not permitted to use any Gistda-owned car as his standard vehicle.
According to Mr. Niwatchai, Mr. Anont’s actions constituted a violation of the Organic Anti-Corruption Act ( 2018 ) and the Act on Offences Committed by Officials of State Organizations or Agencies ( 1959 ).
The NACC did request that Mr. Anont be sued by the Office of Attorney-General and that Gistda be notified to demand payment from Mr. Anont, he said.
In terms of Ms. Niramon, Mr. Niwatchai said that while the NACC stated that her behavior did not constitute a criminal act, she may face disciplinary actions.