Missing millions probe to finish “within 15 days’
PHUKET: Vice-Governor Supachai Yuwaboon has pledged that the commission set up after the theft of more than 2 million baht intended for tsunami victims will complete its investigation within 15 days.
The commission has already summoned two people for interview but, V/Gov Supachai said, “To be fair to everyone, we cannot give any more details until we have finished the investigation process.”
The commission’s primary role is to establish the facts surrounding the case, and its inquiry is separate from the criminal investigation being carried out by the police.
“[The task of] our commission is to investigate the theft of this money, but it’s too early to say how many people we will want to talk to – that depends on the information we receive from elsewhere,” said V/Gov Supachai.
The money – 2,050,000 baht in total – was reported missing from a safe in a strongroom at Phuket Provincial Hall on February 15, by the chief of Phuket Office for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM), Metha Mekarat.
Only two people are believed to have had a key to the safe and the strongroom was under video surveillance. However, the police have yet to make an arrest.
The Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, Pol Col Kokiat Wongvorachart, told the Gazette the ODPM had asked for more time to re-check accounts relating to the money, which was part of the 45 million baht given to ODPM by the government for tsunami relief.
The chief investigator, Pol Lt Col Sian Keawthong, added that police had eight video surveillance tapes to view, and that it would take time to watch them thoroughly.
