The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is expected to set up a sub-panel to investigate 44 education officials for alleged embezzlement of money from a multi-million-baht fund for poor students.
PACC secretary-general Kornthip Daroj said the PACC's fact finding investigation is progressing well and the commission is likely to set up a sub-committee to investigate when it meets on Thursday.
At the centre of the scandal is Rojana Sinthi, a former senior education official who was accused of siphoning 88 million baht from the Sema Phatthana Chiwit Fund and transferring it to 22 bank accounts owned by relatives and friends over the past decade.
She was dismissed after she reportedly admitted the accusations.
Apart from Ms Rojana, 43 other education officials were implicated in alleged embezzlement by the ministry's probe headed by inspector-general for education Atthaphol Truektrong.
According to Mr Kornthip, the PACC is coordinating closely with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to trace the 22 suspected bank accounts and interview those who received the money from Ms Rojana.
In another case of embezzled funds, the PACC secretary-general said irregularities have been detected in 56 provinces where funds were allocated to provide welfare for the underprivileged and HIV patients. Some 33 are now under investigation.
He said the PACC is expected to launch the probe into the alleged plundering of state coffers in another 17 provinces when it meets. Its officials have been in the field gathering facts.
The funds are managed by welfare centres under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Mr Kornthip said the agency is re-examining information involving alleged irregularities in the procurement of blankets for the poor in the three provinces of Prachin Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Sing Buri.
He said officials are focusing on Sing Buri, where it was found the blankets were purchased at more than 400 baht apiece, while the market price is about 190 baht.
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