Five high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) could be punished this week for alleged malfeasance in connection with the embezzlement of state funds originally destined for the underprivileged, Minister Anantaporn Kanjanarat says.
Gen Anantaporn said Tuesday the MSDHS panel examining the welfare centres across the country has finished its probe into the first batch of state officials suspected of being linked with misconduct over spending at the facilities.
He said five C7 and C8 officials were found to be linked to the malfeasance and the panel would consider handing down punishments this week. The next batch will be concluded later, he said.
Citing the probe into the budget spending at 59 centres, the minister said 21 showed evidence of wrongdoing while eight looked clean. The others are still being investigated.
The number of guilty parties is considerably lower than that reported by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), which on Monday said 53 of the 76 centres nationwide were involved in irregularities.
Asked whether the malfeasance was linked to MSDHS permanent secretary Puttipat Lertchaowasit and his deputy, Narong Kongkam, who were transferred earlier to work at the Prime Minister's Office, Gen Anantaporn answered in the affirmative. He said evidence suggests they either took action independently or ordered proxies to act on their behalf.
Responding to National Anti-Corruption Commission member Surasak Keereevichien, who said some officials were found to have been chasing posts at the welfare centres in hope of exploiting the welfare fund, Gen Anantaporn said this corresponds with other agencies' findings and he would ramp up efforts to root out cycles of corruption within two months.
Gen Anantaporn, who took office in November, said he was disappointed at the volume of malfeasance cases involving the ministry, and vowed to punish any guilty parties.
He will meet officials today to discuss a strategy to attempt to restore the ministry's image.