State corruption claims to be investigated
THE GOVERNMENT has received more than 100 allegations of corruption among state officials since military camps around the country started accepting public complaints in mid-July, a junta spokesperson said yesterday.
A total of 1,320 reports have been received on a wide range of issues, said National Council for Peace and Order deputy spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong.
“Of these, 129 are related to alleged corruption by state officials. The government has given priority to dealing with corruption issues, and has forwarded these cases to the National Anti-Corruption Centre for further investigation,” she said.
People had also lodged 110 complaints about irregular practices by military personnel, police and drug suppression officials.
However, the highest number of complaints –666 – involved hardships in life, and these cases had been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for further investigation.
Members of the public also filed complaints about disputes over land rights, other legal issues and a lack of proper utilities.
Sirichan said 11 cases required more information from the complainants, while 404 lacked essential information.
The junta has invited people to lodge their complaints in three ways: via Post Box 444, Ratchadamnoen, Bangkok; on the hotline number 1299; or by face-to-face meetings with officials at one of the 293 military complaints centres across the country.