PUBLISHED : 13 Oct 2023 at 04:00
A 50-year jail term has been handed to a Yasothon Provincial Administration Office (PAO) official who used a government vehicle for personal use, Adul Wandee, director of the Yasothorn Provincial Anti-Corruption Commission, said yesterday.
He said the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 3 handed the sentence on Aug 24 to Roongrak Lukbua, director of the PAO’s education, religion and culture department.
He was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 21 separate cases for violating Section 151 of the Criminal Code, Mr Adul said, adding Roongrak had mismanaged state property, thus damaging the PAO.
Mr Adul told reporters yesterday that the case is expected to serve as a case study to prevent officials from using government items for personal purposes.
Apart from Roongrak, Satiraphorn Naksuk, PAO chief executive, and Phongsiri Muanchart, PAO deputy chief, have also been convicted, he said.
Mr Adul said Roongrak had requested Satiraphorn, PAO chief at the time, to use a government car from July 2014–June 2015 before doing so again for July 2015–March 2016.
Roongrak kept the car at his house in Sai Mun district’s tambon Sai Mun in Yasothorn, Mr Adul said. Roongrak was seen using the car for personal use, including golf trips, he said.
Roongrak was expected to serve 50 years in prison — the maximum jail term. Satiraphorn faces 12 years and a 240,000-baht fine, while Phongsiri faces 16 years and a 320,000-baht fine.
However, the court suspended the jail terms for both Roongrak and Satiraphorn because they did not have priors. The court has ordered them to pay the fines and do 36 hours of community service. They are required to report to the court every four months.