PACC’s ongoing probe into misappropriated aid for the underprivileged

BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) - The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has gathered clear evidence of corruption concerning financial aid for the destitute in two more provinces and is expanding its probe to eight other provinces. Acting PACC secretary-general Kornthip Daroj led the investigation targeting protection centres for the poor and HIV-infected people in 37 provinces. Lately, clear evidence of aid misappropriation was found in Bung Kan and Nong Khai provinces. Fact-finding sub-committees will be set up to proceed with the probe there. Such sub-committees had earlier been formed to tackle similar corruption in Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai provinces. In Udon Thani province, investigators have found that the names of people who died at least three years ago were abused to claim the monthly financial aid. There were also attempts to have villagers pose for photographs to create fake evidence that the monthly financial aid reached the underprivileged. In Krabi province, PACC found 16 cases of the misappropriation as recipients received either partial aid or nothing. Some recipients were actually ineligible to the aid. (TNA)