Graft probe sees 71 senior and local officials shifted

WIELDING THE powerful Article 44 of the interim charter, the government yesterday ordered the transfer and suspension of 71 high-ranking civil servants and members of several local administrative bodies, including the Tourism Ministry permanent secretary to an inactive post and influential Samut Prakan figure Chonsawat Asvahame away from his long-standing stronghold.

Those affected include a number of deputy secretaries-general, public prosecutors and heads of tambon (TAO) and provincial administrative organisations (PAO), mayors, school and hospital directors, and one director-general, said Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, reading out the order published yesterday in the Royal Gazette at a press conference.

Sansern called on the public to believe in the government’s intent to tackle corruption comprehensively, saying that the junta-established National Corruption Prevention Commission was set up to mean business. 

He urged the public to supply information about corruption involving civil servants and politicians.

Among the high-profile transferees are Kamphaeng Phet Deputy Governor Chaiwat Phannara, Rangsan Maneelek, a deputy secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission, and Dr Winai Sawasdiworn, secretary-general of National Health Security Office, Pornchai Kowsurat, head of Ubon Ratchathani PAO, and Kwanchai Wongnitikorn, directorgeneral of Community Development Department, under the Interior Ministry.

Winai has been accused of a lack of transparency in his duties, which allegedly resulted in several government hospitals suffering huge losses.

Former Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Suwat Sithilaw, now a special adviser to the PM’s Office Ministry, has reportedly been accused by the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission of benefiting from several sporting-equipment purchases. He had been included in a previous transfer, but because of an administrative issue he was not reshuffled.

The Office of the Auditor-General found that Chonsawat had subsidised an unusually large amount of money to sponsor a local temple in Samut Prakan. The action was scrutinised as a result of complaints from local residents.

The order divided the transferees in four categories: civil servants, TAO officials, PAO staff and mayors, and members of municipal assemblies. 

Only the civil servants will continue to receive their salaries while investigations into the alleged wrongdoings are under way.

The mayors and members of municipal assemblies must not be reassigned to areas where they have previously been based, but are allowed to be sent elsewhere in the same province under a case-by-case consideration by provincial governors.

The transfers, made under Order 16/2015 of the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order, gives special authority to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha or a minister of his choice to issue organic regulations to readjust conditions in the transfer order.

It is alleged that Suwat, the highest-ranking official being transferred, purchased sports equipment at above-market prices that is expected to cause damages of more than Bt3.2 billion and perhaps reach Bt5 billion.

Suwat was appointed permanent secretary during previous government to mainly to run sport events. 

The Tourism Ministry has been dominated by the Chart Thai Pattana Party for more about a decade since being established. 

Suwat was fired along with Patanachart Kridiborworn, director-general of the Department of Physical Education, Niwat Limsuknirun, deputy director-general of the same department, and Anupap Kasornsuwan, director general of the Tourism Department. The foursome have been investigated since last year after the military coup.

It is alleged that Patanachart, Niwat and Anupap were also involved in the scheme to purchase over-priced equipment for use nationwide.