“A special investigative committee was set up two days ago, and was given 15 days to present its findings,” Phuket Provincial Chief Administration Officer (Palad) Pakpoom Intarasuwan told the press gathered at Provincial hall today (Aug 5).
The committee is to present its recommendations for any legal action against any officials deemed guilty of corruption, he added.
The announcement follows a list of persons listed by nickname and mobile phone number – and the government agency the person allegedly works for – going viral on Thai social media websites.
The list includes payments allegedly collected by those people on the 10th of each month. (see story here.)
Phuket Police Chief Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen yesterday (Aug 4) denied any involvement in any such scheme, and vowed to investigate the origins of the list.
He also called for victims of extortion by corrupt officials in Phuket to come forward with any evidence.
Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada noted that “corrupt officials in Phuket was not new”, and urged people to contact him directly if they felt the need to report corruption.
“If you think you are being harassed, come see me,” he said.