Graft probe transfers rock local agency heads

The local administrative executive circle has been rocked by the latest move to transfer alleged corrupt officials out of their jurisdiction while they are being probed.

Panthep Klanarongran, chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said he supported the proposal by Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya, as chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Administrative Centre, to submit a list of more than 100 officials to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha for transfer consideration.

The officials in question are being prosecuted for alleged criminal or disciplinary offences.

Sansern Polajiak, secretary-general of the NACC and also a member of the centre, said the move was aimed at producing concrete achievements on cracking down on corruption.

Sansern said the move was necessary because taking legal action against corrupt officials was a lengthy process.

He said the government wanted the work to be done more swiftly so the officials could be transferred.

“Most officials on the list are local officials who have been found by fact-finding committees to have committed wrongdoings,’’ he said.

 The list has been prepared by the NACC, the Office of Auditor General of Thailand and the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission. It includes officials of all ranks. 

The NACC presented less than 10 names, including presidents and chief administrators of sub-district administrative organisations and provincial administrative organisations.

Sansern said that Paiboon would call a meeting once a month or call an urgent meeting when any incident came up to decide who should be transferred. “This will make officials fear committing offences. Otherwise they can continue working as usual even though they face probes,’’ he said.

The NACC panel is considering if it should forward names of officials linked to illegal land title deeds and forest encroachment to the NACC.