Three high-ranking officials at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry were found to have been involved in the widespread corruption scandal at most of the 76 provincial protection centres for the destitute across the country.
One of them is a high-ranking official at the department level and the other two already retired, Lt Col Korntip Daroj, secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said on Tuesday.
Evidence on budget approval implicated them and in some cases, the money trails linked them with the directors of the 37 centres.
"We have already asked the Anti-Money Laundering Office to check the money trails," he said.
The officials will be probed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The PACC normally handles cases of corruption and malfeasance against lower-ranking officials while the NACC takes care of cases against politicians and high-ranking officials.
Lt Col Korntip also said the director of a school in Nakhon Phanom was also found to be involved. "We've already asked the Education Ministry to take disciplinary action and transfer him," he said.
At a briefing on the progress of the investigation on Tuesday, Lt Col Korntip said clear irregularities had been found at 34 of all 37 centres with a budget of 1 million baht or more each, the priority of the investigation.
The 34 provinces are Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Bung Kan, Nong Khai, Surat Thani, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Trat, Udon Thani, Nan, Krabi, Trang, Sa Kaeo, Roi Et, Phatthalung, Chumphon, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Phitsanulok, Maha Sarakham, Lamphun, Nakhon Ratchasima, Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Yala, Samut Songkhram, Phichit, Ratchaburi and Loei.
"As for the other three provinces -- Sing Buri, Prachin Buri and Nakhon Si Thammarat -- while no irregularities have been found at this stage, suspicious deals have been discovered such as purchases of highly overpriced blankets," he said.
The PACC also finished the probe into five self-built communities, the development centre for hills tribe people, the coordination centre of cooperative village project and a shelter for the destitute.
"We sent three of the cases to the NACC and set up panels to look further into another two,"
The PACC hopes finish the investigation by the end of the month, 30 days ahead of the schedule, he said.