University pair face embezzlement rap

Asst Prof Theeraphong Bualar, 48, dean of Burapha University's Faculty of Political Science and Law, at Saen Suk police station in Chon Buri to hear charges of embezzle­ment and related offences. Police Photo
Asst Prof Theeraphong Bualar, 48, dean of Burapha University’s Faculty of Political Science and Law, at Saen Suk police station in Chon Buri to hear charges of embezzle­ment and related offences. Police Photo

A faculty dean at Burapha University in Chon Buri and a senior official there have been charged with embezzling funds allocated for training courses and academic seminars.

Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) commander, Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, yesterday went to the state-run university in tambon Saen Suk, in Chon Buri’s Muang district, to arrest Asst Prof Theeraphong Bualar, 48, dean of the political science and law faculty, and Sayaphat Kittisarawanno, 46, acting head of the dean’s office.

Both were charged with embezzlement, malfeasance in office, abuse of authority to commit graft, dereliction of duty and other offences.

The ACD received a complaint about alleged irregularities in several university projects, Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat said.

Investigators found irregularities relating to budget spending in eight training and seminar projects, he added.

One was a seminar on groundwater resource management. About 1.12 million baht was allocated for the seminar, which was held from Jan 7 to Jan 16, 2018.

Mr Theeraphong was the project leader and chairman of its committee and Ms Sayaphat served as a committee member and secretary, he said.

Three foreign lecturers were booked for the seminar at 150,000 baht each.

However, immigration records showed the lecturers were not in the country at the time of the seminar and there was no video conference.