Student intern blows the whistle on poverty centre’s alleged Bt6.9 embezzlement scam
AN ONGOING investigation has found that several officials at the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute have allegedly embezzled Bt6.9 million of state funds using forged signatures after an intern exposed alleged wrongdoing at the facility.
Panida Yotpanya, a 22-year-old student at the Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, alerted officials about the alleged wrongdoing and is a key witness in the case.
“There is solid evidence against five officials,” Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) assistant secretary-general Pol Lt-Colonel Wannop Somjintanakul said yesterday.
Panida and three of her friends joined the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute as student trainees and, during their apprenticeship, they were told to forge the signatures of more than 2,000 people.
The order prompted Panida and her friends to report the matter to their faculty. They also lodged complaints with the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
Worried that no concrete action had been taken against the officials had who ordered the forgery, Panida petitioned the PACC and the National Council for Peace and Order.
In response to her complaint, Wannop yesterday led a team to Khon Kaen province to gather evidence, finding that people listed as having received financial help from the Khon Kaen Protection Centre for the Destitute either had not received any money or had received less than what the centre claimed they had received.
Sopa Jomkhamsing, a member of a local occupational group, said the centre gave her group Bt30,000 in financial support but documents showed the group had received Bt90,000.
Wannop said the PACC should be able to conclude its investigation in the case within six months.
“We also plan to expand the investigation to cover all protection centres for the destitute in the country,” she said.
Panida said she decided to speak up to protect her own name and also the public.
“I sought an apprenticeship at the Khon Kaen Centre for the Destitute because I have always wanted to become a great social worker,” she said.
“I hope I will be able to serve society and help millions of destitute people after my graduation. So, I refused to stay silent after detecting such irregularities.”