Napa Settakorn, director-general of the Social Development and Welfare Department, said the ministry has launched a severe disciplinary inquiry into welfare centres in Khon Kaen, where 6.9 million baht is said to have been embezzled, and Chiang Mai. The officials involved, including Khon Kaen welfare centre director Phuangphayom Chitkhom, were dismissed from the civil service in March. A "lighter" probe will focus on Khon Kaen welfare officers like Ms Phuangphayom and two witnesses to her alleged graft to see what regulations were breached. Initial investigations have found irregularities in 56 of 77 welfare centres nationwide, and probing committees have been set up to look into 33 of the centres, he added. He expects that any progress made by the investigations into the irregularities at the welfare centres, including the Education Ministry's Sema Phatthana Chiwit Fund, will be taken to the PACC board next week.

Source: Bangkok Post April 20, 2018 00:22 UTC