More embezzlement of welfare fund found

BUENG KAN, Feb 20 (TNA) – Graft busters found evidence of more embezzlement of financial aid intended for the destitute in five other provinces. After the alleged corruption was uncovered at a protection centre for the poor in Khon Kaen, Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) expands investigation to more than 70 centers across the country. PACC acting secretary-general, Lt Col Kornthip Daroj on Monday inspected the protection center for the destitute at Baan Tha Sa-ard village in Seka district of Bueng Kan province. Most villagers listed as recipients of the welfare fund did not know they were qualified to receive the payment. Some said they submitted their ID cards to register for occupational training but did not know their documents were abused in the welfare fund embezzlement scheme. There were skillful written signatures of some illiterate elderly, appearing in the document for welfare fund disbursement. About 36 persons in a village were listed as recipients but only four of them received the aid fund. About two million baht is allocated for Bueng Kan province and 1,239 destitute people were entitled to the financial assistance. The number of welfare recipients in Bueng Kan is not as many as those in bigger cities like Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai, but the embezzlement processes are the same. It cannot be concluded whether it is a corruption network or not as more evidence is being collected. However, solid evidence shows the corruption at the centers in five provinces – Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Bueng Kan, Nongkhai and Surat Thani. Graft busters are scrutinizing more 37 targeted centers. The probes will be wrapped up within 90 days or by May 31. (TNA)