corruption
- Thailand News
Bangkok probes corruption in exercise equipment procurement
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is intensifying its investigation into allegations of corruption related to the procurement of exercise equipment for public parks in Bangkok. Evidence pointing toward potential irregularities has emerged during an initial probe, prompting a more extensive inquiry. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and BMA Deputy Permanent Secretary Nathapong Disayabutra revealed the expansion plans following a board meeting.…
- Thailand News
Sneaky senators: Hired votes spotted in upcoming election
As the upcoming Senate election round approaches, caretaker senator Somchai Swangkarn anticipates the revelation that certain individuals have been recruited solely to vote for candidates endorsed by specific political parties or interest groups. Somchai, who has consistently pointed out attempts to manipulate the Senate election outcomes, stated that a review of Sunday’s district-level voting results showed many applicants receiving no…
- Thailand News
Military officer’s “rank” behaviour caught on video, sparks probe
A senior military officer is under investigation after a video surfaced yesterday showing him threatening police officers and a woman, claiming, ‘Do you know who I am?’ and threatening to transfer the entire police station. The man in question, reportedly identified as a lieutenant general, reversed his vehicle towards a woman, almost causing an accident. He then engaged in a…
- Thailand News
Bangkok governor probes overpriced gym equipment purchases
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt acknowledged discovering unusual procurement patterns in gym equipment purchases for two sports centres managed by City Hall, with one treadmill costing as much as a car. Chadchart addressed public concerns yesterday regarding the procurement for the sports centres at Waree Phirom Park in Khlong Sam Wa district and Wachirabenchathat Park (Suan Rod Fai) in Chatuchak district.…
- Thailand News
Court sentences ex-police officer to death for fatal Trang shooting
Initially acquitted, an ex-police gunman faces the death penalty for the fatal shooting of a couple in Trang. The couple were buying materials for their rubber latex business at the time, before being violently gunned down. The tragic event occurred on September 9, 2021, in front of the Khuan Mao Cockfighting Stadium in Trang Province. The victims, 39 year old…
- Thailand News
Corrupt former DSI chief faces 44 million baht asset seizure
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) concluded investigations into two cases involving the corrupt former Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), resulting in significant asset seizures totalling over 44 million baht (US$10 million). In the initial case, the court ordered the forfeiture of the former DSI’s Director-General Tharit Pengdit’s assets worth 341.80 million baht to the state. A subsequent…
- Thailand News
Bangkok official arrested for 9 million baht bribe in road plan scam
A senior Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) official has been arrested for allegedly accepting a 9 million baht bribe to alter road construction plans to avoid a golf course, seizing luxury cars and Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the process. At 6am today, Brigadier General Prasong Chelimpun, head of the Anti-Corruption Division, led a team of officers in the Anti-Corruption Commission Division 2,…
- Thailand News
Ex-minister dodges jail over Pattaya luxury condo scandal
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases acquitted former Culture Minister and ex-mayor of Pattaya City Itthipol Khunpluem in a luxury condo scandal case. The high-profile case, involving allegations of abuse of power, reached its statute of limitations, allowing Itthipol to escape legal repercussions. Itthipol, who attended the court session in Rayong province yesterday, left without addressing the media…
- Thailand News
Corrupt former DSI chief’s 44.6 million baht assets seized
An alleged corrupt former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief experienced a significant blow as the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sanctioned the confiscation of his assets worth 44.6 million baht. This development, announced yesterday by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into Tarit Pengdit’s unaccounted wealth. NACC Secretary General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol…
- Thailand News
Bangkok school directors get 20-year sentences for bribery
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Thailand handed down 20-year prison sentences to the former director and the former deputy director of Samsenwittayalai School. The two were found guilty of accepting bribes from parents, colloquially termed “tea money,” to secure their children’s admission to the school in 2017. Additionally, the court ordered the pair to pay…
- Thailand News
Koh Larn wind energy project under scrutiny for misuse of funds
The dream of harnessing wind energy to provide a sustainable power source for Koh Larn in Pattaya has sputtered to a halt, amidst allegations that the turbines stand broken and idle due to insufficient funds for repair. The wind turbine project, situated on Khao Nom Sao mountain near Samae Beach, was conceived back in 2006. With a hefty budget of…
- Thailand News
Legal team denies Big Joke’s involvement with BNK Master
The legal team of Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn aka Big Joke divulged that nearly 30 police officers are being implicated in a corruption scandal linked to an illicitly operated online gambling network known as BNK Master. The officers under scrutiny are thought to have been involved in receiving underhand payments from the network, which has also implicated Big Joke.…
- Phuket News
Phuket anti-corruption commission probes Cape Yamu Villas land legitimacy
A thorough investigation has been initiated by the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC Phuket) into the legitimacy of land documents for the luxury Cape Yamu Villas. This probe was motivated by concerns about potential encroachment onto public land at Yamu Beach in Pa Klok and the possible involvement of corrupt officials. NACC Phuket’s Director, Suwat Saowaran, alongside…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s ex-police chief indicted for aiding Red Bull heir evade justice
The ex-National Police Chief of Thailand, Somyot Poompanmoung, alongside seven other individuals, has been indicted by the Attorney General for alleged involvement in aiding Vorayuth “Boss”‘ Yoovidhya dodge prosecution regarding a 2012 hit-and-run case. Vorayuth is a member of the family that owns the Red Bull empire. Prayut Phetcharakhun, the spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), reported yesterday…
- Thailand News
Agriculture chief defends against bribe claims in corruption case
The Director-General of the Department of Rice staunchly defended actions taken in a controversy involving a well-known activist, Srisuwan Janraya, who was offered money to halt corruption complaints. At 1pm today, January 30, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Natthakit Khanthip addressed the allegations that a consultant to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives suggested that the director-general’s wife…
- Thailand News
Ex-municipal tax chief caught after 15 years for embezzling funds
The Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) successfully apprehended a former municipal tax chief after a 15-year-long evasion. She was accused of embezzling government funds on over 100 occasions, resulting in a significant loss of 300,000 baht. Under the directive of Major General Prasong Chalermphan, officers led by Colonel Sanuwong Kongkain and Lieutenant Colonel Amnuay Wichitsophon, along with Krisakorn Sanitsakdee, Director of the…
- Thailand News
Khon Kaen mayor busted in corruption crackdown
The mayor of Chonnabot district municipality, Khon Kaen, finds himself at the epicenter of a corruption scandal. The once-respected official, Khunanon Hinthao, has been apprehended for allegedly scheming a jaw-dropping 30% kickback, amounting to a staggering 300,000 baht, in two CCTV installation projects valued at nearly 1 million baht. The charming facade of Khunanon’s house, doubling as a coffee shop,…
- Crime News
Three Japanese ministers resign amidst 124 million baht kickback controversy
Three high-ranking Japanese government ministers have thrown in the towel amidst a whopping 500 million yen (124 million baht) corruption scandal. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the stalwart ruling force in the world’s third-largest economy, is now grappling with the fallout from allegations that could reshape the nation’s political future. In a seismic blow to the political establishment, three top-tier…
- Thailand News
Unjust arrest sparks outrage over police corruption in Thailand
A 50 year old Thai man aired his grievances about police corruption after being unjustly arrested for illegal possession of a gun that was not his. The police demanded a 50,000 baht bail fee, which was eventually negotiated to 20,000 baht, in exchange for his release. The victim, Piboon Tanthai, claimed that someone had left the gun at his house…
- Thailand News
Thai health official’s family embroiled in 50 million baht corruption case
Public Health Minister Chalnan Srikaew today revealed a corruption case involving a senior official from the Department of Medical Science, her daughter, and her son-in-law. The trio was involved in fraudulent activities, falsifying documents, and misappropriation of funds causing over 50 million baht in damages. Chalnan yesterday received a report from Yongyos Thamwutti, the acting director of the Department of…
- Thailand News
Thai prime minister faces backlash over alleged police favouritism
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is facing a backlash over alleged favouritism in police selection assignments. During a meeting with Pheu Thai MPs on Tuesday, November 21, the PM mentioned that some Pheu Thai MPs had requested police colonel positions for their preferred officers. While addressing the debt issue in the meeting, PM Srettha proposed a solution involving district chiefs…
- Thailand News
Phuket officials accused of extorting Thai women and their foreign husbands
Multiple Thai women accused officials at district offices in Phuket of extorting money from them and their foreign husbands. The alleged malpractice involves overcharging them between 3,000 to 8,000 baht for marriage certificates, a substantial increase from the standard 200 baht fee. These complaints were brought to the attention of a Facebook news page called Phuket Info Centre, whose administrator…
- Thailand News
Bang Pla officials arrested in 2.3 million baht corruption scandal
A corruption scandal has surfaced in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, where the 61 year old chairman of Bang Pla Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO), and his 44 year old secretary, were apprehended today. The duo was accused of demanding a 2.3 million-baht bribe from a local business. The arrest followed a complaint lodged by a business firm…
- Thailand News
Deputy Minister’s son-in-law nabbed for extorting contractor as water supply scandal makes waves
Officers from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) arrested the mayor of Doo sub-district and the Deputy Interior Minister’s son-in-law on charges of extorting 600,000 baht from a water supply contractor. Bail was set at 400,000 baht yesterday. The contractor told the PACC that his company had put forward two tenders for two supply system projects in Taluk Doo and…
- Thailand News
Thai official gets 52 years sentence for misuse of government vehicle
Rungrak Lookbua, the Director of the Department of Religious and Cultural Education under the Provincial Administration Organization of Yasothon, has been indicted by the Anti-Corruption Commission for misuse of a government vehicle for personal gain. The Director, along with his team, was accused of using a government vehicle for commuting and golfing. The charges were brought by the Office of…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s ‘influential figures’ list: Shedding light on dark influence
The Deputy Interior Minister of Thailand confirmed the completion of a list containing 600-700 individuals deemed as “influential figures” known for their dark influence across the nation. This list is set to be discussed at a committee meeting on Tuesday. In this register, less than a hundred individuals are classified as hardcore, falling under the Red group. The remaining majority are…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s education minister takes ‘no-conflict’ stance to school corruption
In a bold move against corruption, Police General Permpoon Chidchob, Thailand’s Education Minister, issued directives to all education officials, mandating the avoidance of potential conflicts of interest. This action aims to eradicate graft, corruption, and fraud which can stem from such conflicts. Concerning this, Pol. Gen. Permpoon stated that all agencies must strive for total transparency and accountability. He believes,…
- Thailand News
Thai citizens suspect state officials’ collusion with mafia-style figures, survey shows
A significant proportion of Thai citizens suspect some state officials, including the police, of colluding with mafia-style influential figures, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The survey, carried out from September 12 to 14, involved telephone interviews with 1,310 participants over the age of 18, representing a diverse range of educational backgrounds,…
- Thailand News
Power play exposed: Thai electricity sold to Myanmar drug lord in shocking corruption scandal
Move Forward Party spokesperson Rangsiman Rome slammed corruption within the Thai government system. after he discovered the selling of Thai electricity to a Myanmar drug lord. Rangsiman exposed a super deal has been struck involving two former police chiefs and a police aviation unit. The 31 year old politician also questioned whether Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin would dare to take…
- Crime News
Nok scandal unveils dark secrets: Investigation into accused official’s wealth surfaces
In the wake of the ongoing scandal unfolding involving a high-ranking local official allegedly organizing the murder of a police officer, investigators are now looking into the wealth amassed by the accused, 35 year old Praween Chanklai, also known as Nok. This incident has led the police to widen their investigation to include an examination of Nok’s significant wealth and assets.…
