Bangkok’s Big Corruption Drama: 85% of the Poor‑Fund Disappeared!
Who’s Messing It Up?
Turns out the Office of Public Sector Anti‑Corruption Commission (PACC) has caught a pretty shady group pulling the strings. They say about 100 million baht (that’s roughly S$4.2 million) was siphoned off from the government’s “help‑the‑poor” cash.
What’s the Deal?
Normally, the Ministry of Social Development & Human Security hands out up to 3,000 baht (≈$100) in cash‑grants each year to folks who are truly in need. But the evidence shows that the money never reached the poor – it all went missing.
The Numbers
- 49 out of 76 provinces were flagged for suspicious activity.
- Suspect fraud was allegedly carried out by faked IDs.
- When the cash was traced, it vanished – none of the recipients ever got it.
Government Response
Junta‑era Prime Minister Prayuth Chan‑ocha wasted no time. He ordered an immediate dismissal of every official caught with the misappropriation and announced a fresh investigation by the ministry.
“The government has always been strict about corruption,” Prayuth told reporters after a cabinet meeting. “I don’t want you to think it’s gotten worse.”
More Trouble on the Horizon
Meanwhile, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is in hot water too—he’s been caught hiding a stash of luxury watches from asset declarations. That scandal has fuelled protests demanding an end to military rule, with elections finally due in February 2019 after a decade of political deadlock.
Gotten‑Rough Thailand?
The junta promised to clean up corruption when it seized power in 2014, yet critics say it’s just nuked the “culture of impunity” instead of eliminating it. According to Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index, Thailand sits at 96 out of 180 countries – a modest bump from 2016 but still far from spotless.
So there you have it: a huge graft case, jarring numbers, and a government scrambling to keep its promise of a clean slate while the public stays on their toes, hoping for real change.
