Response to graft cases criticised

Government treats crises as minor, Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand says

The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) has released a statement on well-known graft cases that it claims have had an unfavorable impact on the general public and have also exacerbated hunger.

ACT chair, Mana Nimitmongkol, said on Monday the statement lists bribery scandals that have grabbed common interest in the past year.

Some cases involve flagrant fraud, while others negatively impact Thai citizens ‘ quality of life, he said, adding that the cases have been the result of officials ‘ failure to impose the law or perform poor law enforcement.

Officials are accused of inflating the second case, which would have allowed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to spend time at a doctor rather than a prison. Although some people were unsure whether Thaksin was seriously ill, he was permitted to remain at the Police General Hospital ( PGH) for 180 days.

12 employees from the Department of Corrections and the PGH are being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC).

Another situation involves the first discharge of Apichart Jansakulporn, much known as Sia Piang, a business sentenced to 48 years in prison for his role in the rice-pledging incident. After serving seven centuries, Pichart was released on October 9.

Apichart received a special transfer as a result of serious illness, according to Department of Corrections director-general Sahakarn Phetnarin. He is now receiving care at Ramathibodi Hospital and is not required to wear an EM bracelet.

Apichart, convicted in 2015 for problem related to government-to-government wheat sales offers, was immediately sentenced to 48 years in prison.

However, many royal clemency reduced his word to 12 decades, 8 months, and 12 days. His word is currently scheduled to come to an end on July 27, 2034.

Even though these incidents do not relate to the unlawful acquisition of funds, Mr. Mana said, referring to Thaksin, that the reported granting of special privileges to a prisoner convicted of abuse of power is unacceptable.

Some officials and leaders continue to work together to cover up the lies and accept attention, and they don’t care what the public thinks, according to Mr. Mana.

Another incident occurred on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Pathum Thani, close to the Zeer Rangsit shopping center. On October 1, 20 students and three teachers were killed in a dreadful bus fire that occurred on the same street.

A fuel leak was the cause of the drama, according to the examination of the ill-fated bus by investigative police. The bus had 11 tanks containing compressed natural gas ( CNG ), and a fuel line, which carries gas from a tank to the engine, had come loose, causing the leak. Six of the 11 CNG tank installed on the vehicle were registered, while the remaining vehicles were not, according to authorities.

Mr. Mana claimed that two months have passed since the affair occurred, but that no Department of Land Transport official has been held accountable and that the government hasn’t found a long-term solution to the issue of money among officers. ” There are many illegally-modified cars running about, which may cause several more fatalities”, he said.

The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 2’s decision on May 13 to acquit Itthipol Khunpluem of granting an illegitimate building permit for a high-rise condominium project in Pattaya of Chon Buri state raises yet another question about the NACC’s functionality, Mr. Mana said.

The former chancellor of society and former mayor of Pattaya was found not guilty of violating the 15-year statute of limitations for his command, but because he had already cleared his brand in court. The NACC just requested the state attorney to take the case before the court last year, despite the allegations that it was committed 15 years ago.

Another well-known incidents include the blackchin fish war issue, the common fraud case linked to The image Group, the handling of cadmium waste, and the Khao Kradong land dispute between the State Railway of Thailand and the Department of Lands in Buri Ram.