PM Paetongtarn launches ‘no gift policy’ to curb ISCOC corruption

Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has initiated a bold new measure with the introduction of the No Gift Policy for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), aiming to prevent officers from accepting gifts in exchange for their services.

PM Paetongtarn, acting as ISCOC director, has formalised this policy through a declaration of intent signed on October 30. The document sets forth clear guidelines that ISOC officers are to decline any gifts or gratuities related to their official duties.

The declaration underscores ISCOC’s dedication to upholding national security and public peace with operations that are transparent and free from corruption. It articulates the agency’s responsibilities in planning, directing, coordinating, and supporting strategies and measures aimed at preventing, suppressing, containing, and resolving incidents that could threaten national security in any form, said the Thai premier.

“ISCOC places great importance on preventing and deterring corruption and misconduct as part of its mission.”

The No Gift Policy is crafted to nurture a culture of integrity within the ISCOC, promoting values such as honesty and accountability among personnel at all levels. The directive explicitly prohibits officers from accepting gifts as tokens of appreciation during holidays or on any other occasions, thus avoiding conflicts of interest that might compromise their decision-making related to their duties.

This policy has been disseminated among all Isoc officers to ensure that their work is carried out with utmost honesty and transparency, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, Police General Kittirat Panpetch, acting commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, ordered an investigation into a precinct officer accused of embezzling funds from a mediation case.

A 34 year old woman reported to the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page that the officer from Samrong Tai Police Station pocketed 30,000 baht. The funds were part of a debt settlement where the debtor, under police supervision, paid in instalments.

In other news, a House committee announced plans to convene on November 5 to investigate allegations of preferential treatment afforded to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his incarceration at the Police General Hospital.