The board of the Sema Phatthana Chiwit Fund (Sema Life Development) has agreed to give 25 million baht to ex-students who missed out on grants due to the alleged embezzlement of its welfare fund.
The money will be handed to the students, although many of them have already graduated, because "they had a right to the grant", permanent secretary for education Karun Sakunpradit said after a board meeting yesterday.
The fund was set up to give financial support to poor students.
The largest portion (18.9 million baht) of the handouts will go to students from 25 nursing colleges, Mr Karun said.
The fund received negative publicity after alleged irregularities surfaced. Former C8 education official Rojana Sinthi is at the centre of the scandal. She is accused of siphoning 88 million baht from the fund and transferring it into 22 bank accounts owned by relatives and friends over the last decade.
She was dismissed after reportedly admitting her guilt. Ms Rojana now faces criminal charges of embezzlement, malfeasance, falsifying documents and dereliction of duty.
Mr Karun said yesterday that the ministry has set up an inquiry panel to probe accusations involving three C8 and C9 officials.
The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is also examining the alleged criminal offences committed by the suspects.
"The PACC's work has progressed significantly," Mr Karun said, adding he expects an update this week.
