Tak: Mae Sot Municipality is investigating allegations that officials took bribes in issuing some 700 identification cards to migrant workers over the past three months.
This comes as a fourth official in the Registration Department in Mae Sot district was transferred for allegedly taking bribes in issuing the ID cards to the Myanmar migrants.
The investigation stems from complaints received by Tak governor Somchai Kitchareanrungroj about the bribery after some people spotted unusually long lines of migrants registering for pink ID cards.
The pink card is issued to migrants registered in the house registration system as proof of legality. Valid for 10 years, the card can help them apply for work.
After the complaints, Prasert Puanglakorn, mayor of Mae Sot, transferred three officials to non-active posts pending an investigation by the municipality.
A local source claimed the three officials issued, on average, 15–20 ID cards per day in the past three months, demanding 40,000–100,000 baht for each card, totalling 28–30 million baht in bribes.
On Monday, a committee was launched to find out how long the bribery had been going on and where the migrant workers who bribed the officials were staying.
The committee is also authorised to call individuals to give statements and inspect relevant documents.
The municipality will ask the Department of Provincial Administration to revoke all 10-year cards issued until now, said the source.