The Nakhon Ratchasima-based 2nd Army has completed the inspection of rice under the previous government's rice-pledging scheme at 297 warehouses in 14 northeastern provinces, according to Col Chinkaj Rattanachit.
Col Chinkaj, the 2nd Army spokesman, said the inspection was carried out between July 3 and 26 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Roi-et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket provinces.
The inspection was made by 13 teams of eight soldiers each, or a total of 104 soldiers.
After the completion of the inspection, it was concluded that 4,298 sacks of rice from a total of 23,235,449 stored at 297 warehouses had gone missing. The amount was only 0.018% of the total and did not exceed the 5% margin of error fixed by the committee set up to check the quantity and quality of rice.
The soldiers also found 17,505 sacks of rice, or 0.08% of the total, had been damaged by flooding.
The findings have been reported to the checking committee, Col Chinkaj said.