Probe launched into old-age allowance scam
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THE NAMES of elderly people entitled to the old-age allowance were found to have been repeated in several villages in Kalasin's Muang district, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into withdrawals made over the past six months.
Tambon Huai Pho Municipality initially admitted to the name repetitions, but said they stemmed from typing errors and insisted that the actual payments were made correctly.
The move follows a call from elderly people as well as some disabled people and those living with HIV demanding that the Tambon Huai Pho Municipality pay their overdue allowances.
This led to the provincial governor issuing an instruction for the municipality to borrow from an Bt8-million reserve fund to pay the 1,742 affected people. However, the money was withdrawn from the fund without any documentation or the governor’s written authorisation and the payments were hastily made on October 18.
Some villagers also claimed that allowances were still being paid to people who had died.
Kalasin Local Administration Office chief Songkran Maiyawong said a committee had been set up to investigate facts, especially the delays in allowance payments, payments made in the name of deceased people, and the withdrawal from the reserve fund. Investigation should be completed before November 10, he said.
