'Powerful figure' implicated in scandal
Play
At least one very powerful figure has been implicated in the embezzlement of pills containing pseudoephedrine from state hospitals, the public health minister's adviser, Pasit Sakdanarong, said yesterday.
An investigation has revealed that about 45 million pills containing pseudoephedrine disappeared from various hospitals in recent years.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has taken over the case from the police. There is suspicion that the embezzlement is linked to the large-scale production of illicit methamphetamine.
During an interview with a television station, Pasit said yesterday that “a very powerful figure” had allegedly pocketed 5-per-cent profit from the embezzled pills.
He did not identify the person, though.
An informed source has given the initials of two persons, P and N, each of whom allegedly received 10 per cent for the pills stolen from state hospitals. It also said Bro Khow got a 2-per-cent share while a “powerful figure” received a 5-per-cent share.
Pasit said the investigation, which is continuing, had uncovered increasingly solid evidence against those involved.
“The investigation will nail down the culprits,” he said.
Pol Maj-General Sopon Pisuttiwong, who heads the Seventh Provincial Police Region, said his agency had detected unusually high sales of pseudoephedrine-containing medicines in Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi.
The DSI has targeted 22 hospitals in various provinces, including Bangkok, in the probe over the alleged transfer of the pills to drug traffickers.
Pasit said pseudoephedrine – an ingredient in many cold pills – could be used to produce illicit drugs.
“It has now been included as a Type 2 narcotic,” he said.
From now on, tablets containing pseudoephedrine will likely be used at hospitals only, Pasit said.
