Crackdown on payments fraud

It said any official found to have made up names of victims or sought a commission from anyone would face disciplinary and criminal action.

Eight panels are investigating applications and verifying the status of victims in various conditions. One panel will conduct public relations work with local and foreign media to promote the payments and relevant activities, deputy permanent secretary Pracha Terat said.

The government has categorised four groups of people entitled to payments. They are members of the public in the deep South (Bt500-million); security or government officials who suffered violence (Bt200 million); people who suffered violence or extrajudicial moves (Bt1 billion); and people wrongfully arrested, detained, prosecuted or convicted (Bt300 million).

Pracha said some applicants had complained of people claiming to be middlemen, who demanded 20 per cent of payouts for mediation or help with lodging applications. Complaints about such middlemen or officials seeking a commission on payments can be made to the 1567 call centre.