Otep calls for Billion Group to return loans from teachers' fund
THE ACTING CHIEF of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel (Otep) has lodged complaints with police against a private firm for allegedly using falsified documents and issuing a cheque that bounced to secure h
Executives of the firm, Billion Innovated Group, as well as former |executives of Otep, have now emerged as prime suspects.
“The acting chief of Otep, Pinijsak Suwanrang, has already written to the firm’s owner Samrit Bunditkitsada, demanding repayment of the loans,” Education Ministry permanent secretary Kamjorn Tatiyakavee said yesterday. He said the current board of the Otep wanted to get repayment as soon as possible.
Billion Innovated Group has yet to repay more than Bt2 billion to Otep. Assets of the prime suspects, including Samrit, have also been frozen. Otep granted the loans using money from a fund for teachers under its care.
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deputy director-general Pong-In Intarakhao yesterday said his agency had constantly updated the current Otep board about its investigation into the alleged irregularities.
“So far, this case is not yet being treated as a special case. [As a result] Otep has to lodge complaints directly with police,” he said.
He explained that the DSI would help forward the case against the |suspects to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further action.
Pong-In said the DSI would also help look into teachers’ complaints that the fund under Otep might have lured them into buying false life-insurance policies.
