PACC to widen destitute fund misappropriation probe

The PACC would probe the Operational Centre for the Destitute and Beggars over the spending of Bt1.7 million, and the Department of Social Development and Welfare’s (DSDW) Welfare Protection and Quality of Life Promotion Division over the spending of Bt656,850, he said. It would also probe two housing cooperative coordination centres in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi provinces.
The agency would also probe five centres for protection of the destitute over additional fund irregularities totalling Bt2.31 million, he said. They are: Preuyai centre in Si Sa Ket province – Bt700,000; Nonthaburi centre –Bt480,000; Sam Mahapon centre in Chiang Mai – Bt400,000; Thap Kwang centre in Sara Buri – Bt380,000 and Prachuap Khiri Khan centre – Bt350,000.
Nine self-help settlement centres will be probed over the spending of Bt69.8 million: Prasart centre (Bt11 million) and silk-worm rearing centre (Bt5.53 million) in Surin province; Rattaphum and Thepa centres (each Bt10.53 million) in Songkhla province; Betong centre (Bt10.27 million) in Yala province; Phang Nga (Bt7.85 million); Pattani’s Khok Pho centre (Bt6.2 million), Ubon Ratchathani’s Lam Dom Yai centre (Bt5.5 million) and Lampang’s Kiew Lom centre (Bt2.35 million).
Ten hill-tribe development centres will be scrutinised over spending of Bt29.1 million: They are in Phayao (Bt12.98 million), Phrae (Bt5.95 million), Khamphaeng Phetch (Bt3.38 million), Phetchabun (Bt3.2 million), Ratchaburi (Bt950,000), Phitsanulok (Bt740,000), Kanchanaburi (Bt688,000), Lamphun (Bt450,000), Uthai Thani (Bt450,000) and Phetchaburi (Bt350,000).
On Monday the PACC concluded its investigation, which began in February, into 67 provincial protection centres for the destitute and found allowance misappropriation. It officially made accusations against 156 officials at 35 centres run by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS).
In the wake of the scandal, MSDHS permanent secretary Puttipat Lertchaowasit and deputy permanent secretary Narong Kongkham were transferred and then the Cabinet last month ordered that they be dismissed from service unless the investigation cleared their name in the end. 
DSDW chief Napa Setthakorn said on Wednesday that clear evidence against the former director of Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute and its former social-welfare chief had been uncovered and they would be fired for their role in the alleged embezzlement of state funds for the destitute.