6-12-2023 (BANGKOK) In a shocking turn of events, four Thai officials from the Revenue Department in Samut Prakan province, located near Bangkok, have been dismissed from their posts after authorities unearthed an astounding two billion baht (US$57 million) in their bank accounts. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has described the group as “unusually wealthy,” sparking concerns about the prevalence of corruption in the Southeast Asian kingdom.
While corruption allegations against officials are not uncommon, the magnitude of the discovered sum has raised eyebrows. The NACC has referred the case to the attorney general’s office, urging the Criminal Court for Corruption to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
According to Sornchai Chuwichian, assistant secretary general and deputy spokesperson of the NACC, the individuals in question, three women and one man, displayed a significant disparity between their listed assets, including bank deposits, and their government incomes. In a statement released on Monday, Sornchai noted that their wealth could not be justified based on their official salaries.
What’s particularly baffling is that none of the implicated officials could provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of the substantial funds, raising suspicions of illicit activities. The man identified as Danai Damrongchaiyothin held a staggering 1.1 billion baht (US$31 million) across seven accounts, while one of the women had accumulated over 500 million baht (US$14 million) in five accounts. To put this in perspective, the starting salary for a revenue official is less than US$450 per month.
The NACC’s decision to dismiss all four officials from their government positions underscores the severity of the allegations. However, the statement did not clarify whether charges have been filed or if any arrests have been made in connection with the case.
