The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) expects to see the results of its investigation into irregularities concerning a Khon Kaen welfare centre within six months, it said Tuesday.
At issue is the alleged falsification of receipts totalling 6.9 million baht for welfare and other payments.
Jarumporn Suramanee, a PACC board member, said the board agreed to establish the panel to look into claims made against the Khon Kaen Protection for the Destitute, a state-funded agency that helps the underprivileged and HIV patients.
The agency is under the umbrella of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS). The Office of the Auditor General of Thailand will also sit on the panel.
The scandal came to light after Panida Yotpanya, 22, a social science student at Maha Sarakham University, and her three friends who worked as interns at the centre lodged a complaint with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
The students, who attended job training there last year, said they were ordered by the centre's director, Phuangphayom Chitkhom, and senior officials to fill in forms and sign receipts for 2,000 villagers, worth nearly 7 million baht.
The PACC's initial probe found there were sufficient grounds to set up a fully fledged investigation. Five other state officials at the centre were also implicated in the scandal.
They have been accused of embezzling state funds, dereliction of duty, falsifying documents and certifying counterfeit documents in violation of the Criminal Code.
According to the centre's regulations, 90 villagers were entitled to receive 3,000 baht each. However, they received just 1,000 baht and some nothing at all, according to the allegations. Copies of the villagers' ID cards were used in the disbursement.
Pol Gen Jarumporn said 493 million baht was allocated to provincial welfare centres nationwide including 6.9 million baht on a provincial level.
But Khon Kaen only distributed 30% of this sum to a total of 2,000 low-income people and 500 HIV patients, he added.
Pol Gen Jarumporn said officials will be sent to compile more evidence. The PACC will also ask the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) to follow the money trail to locate other suspects.
When the results come out the PACC will forward them to the MSDHS, which will consider whether disciplinary action is merited.
The results will also be sent to public prosecutors. Any civilians who are found to have been embroiled in corruption will also face legal action, officials said.
