The Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) has fired three senior officials for alleged corruption in the purchase of 112.5-billion-baht worth of rubber gloves and ordered them to pay 2 billion baht compensation in damages.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit on Wednesday said that disciplinary action was taken against the PWO's former acting director Pol Col Roongroj Phutthiyawat and two executive officials -- Kiatkhajorn Sae-tai and Murathathorn Khambut -- on the ground of alleged corruption in the rubber glove procurement.
The probe ruled to sack the three from the office. PWO director Kriangsak Prateepvisut will submit the result to the board meeting this month, Mr Jurin said.
Mr Jurin said the Law Violation Consideration Committees, chaired by Wanchai Varavithya, inspector-general of the Commerce Ministry, will issue its view on how much in compensation the three should pay to reach 2 billion baht. A decision is expected soon.
The PWO filed a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation last September regarding Pol Col Roongroj Phutthiyawat for authorising the deal with the Guardian Gloves company.
At that time, Pol Col Roongroj defended the purchase, saying he only wanted to help increase the organisation's revenue since the PWO had not made a profit for five years.
The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission has told those involved about their charges.
Afterwards, the three will no longer receive benefits from the PWO.
The PWO will also sue them for the return of their salaries since they allegedly committed the corruption scheme last August, Mr Jurin added.