The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) expects to wrap up probes into irregularities involving funds for the destitute at welfare centres in 37 provinces this month.
Acting PACC secretary-general Lt Col Kornthip Daroj was speaking yesterday after he met Praiwan Ponlawan, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
He said the ministry was ready to provide information to help speed up the PACC probe.
Committees set up by the PACC to look into the matter have 90 days to complete their investigation into 39 other welfare centres, he said.
A PACC source said the commission had asked the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for information during the period when Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo was social development and human security minister.
The move comes after it found enough grounds to believe that funds earmarked for the underprivileged were embezzled. A PACC probe found the names of people who had died three years ago were listed as eligible recipients at the welfare centre in Udon Thani.
In Krabi, at least 16 underprivileged and HIV patients did not receive any welfare money or only collected 1,000 baht instead of the 3,000 baht they were entitled to from the welfare centre there.
Lt Col Kornthip previously said initial scrutiny in 12 of the provinces showed a similar practice -- funds earmarked for the underprivileged were disbursed, but the money did not go to those entitled to it.
The embezzlement scandal came to light following a complaint against the Khon Kaen Protection for the Destitute centre -- an agency that helps the underprivileged and HIV patients under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
Panida Yotpanya, 22, a social science student at Maha Sarakham University, and three friends working as interns at the agency lodged the complaint with the National Council for Peace and Order.
The students claimed they were ordered by centre director Phuangphayom Chitkhom and other senior officials to fill in forms and sign receipts for 2,000 villagers, worth nearly 7 million baht.
In Surat Thani, Governor Witchawuth Jinto set up a committee to look into irregularities involving funds at the provincial welfare centre there.
