Govt agencies lose ‘millions’ of baht
Officials from local administrative organisations (LAOs) in at least seven provinces have embezzled millions of baht from local government agencies, or are suspected of doing so, according to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
The CIB was alerted to the thefts by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), which audited LAOs spending nationwide, said CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Jirapob Phuridet.
The PACC had detected embezzlement involving accounting officials at LAOs in at least seven provinces, he said. The officials stole the LAOs’ money and wired it to their bank accounts for personal use, he said.
The LAOs is a general term covering the municipal offices and tambon administrative organisations (TAOs).
So far, police have pressed charges against accountants attached to the Lad Yao municipal office in Nakhon Sawan for allegedly making 215 unauthorised withdrawals amounting to 15 million baht from a LAO bank account.
A similar charge was laid against accountants at the Wang Prong TAO in Phitsanulok, who stole 44 million baht from the TAO office.
Pol Lt Gen Jirapob said police have also opened investigations into officials concerning alleged embezzlement at TAOs in five other provinces.
In Nakhon Pathom, accountants and financial officers were alleged to have colluded in siphoning 8.3 million baht via 23 bank account withdrawals from the Nil Phet TAO where they work.
In Saraburi, financial officers illegally took 4.9 million baht from the Nong Hua Pho TAO through 84 withdrawals.
In Chaiyaphum, a local development officer acting as a financial staff member has been accused of illegally withdrawing from the Huai Yai Jew TAO’s bank account 60 times for a total of 5.8 million baht.
In Si Sa Ket, alleged embezzlement worth 540,000 baht was committed by a financial specialist of the Khok Lam TAO.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, 4 million baht was found to have disappeared from a bank account held by the Na Khliang TAO.
The money was found to have been transferred to accounts belonging to the wife of the TAO’s director for finance and accounts owned by the family’s domestic helper.
Police are broadening their probe by asking Krungthai Bank to run checks on other LAOs.
PACC deputy secretary-general Krit Krasaewes said LAO withdrawals usually require the consent of at least three officials but only one was needed in these cases.