An official in Thailand's disaster prevention and mitigation department in Ang Thong province has been accused of receiving salary and bonuses for a decade without effectively working, bringing public sector corruption to the spotlight, reported South China Morning Post.
The local government has not yet responded to the allegations, and it remains unclear what consequences the official will face. According to Thai law, officials involved in corruption can face one to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 baht.
The official allegedly skipped work for about 10 years as he focused on his nightclub singing job. Exhaustion from his night job reportedly caused him to miss daytime duties. Nonetheless, he continued receiving salary and bonuses without facing disciplinary action.
Reports suggest he was occasionally summoned to the office to sign documents, which helped him avoid suspicion. This misconduct came to light through Watchdog, a Facebook page with more than a million followers and dedicated to exposing government corruption .
Public reaction highlighted frustration over corruption, reflecting broader concerns. A 2023 report by Transparency International placed Thailand 108th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index .
The report noted, "88 per cent of Thai respondents viewed government corruption as a significant problem, and 24 per cent of those who interacted with public services had paid a bribe in the past year."
In a separate case in Nakhon Ratchasima province, a family was allegedly harassed for six years by their neighbour, a government official. The family reported being bullied and having their property damaged. Despite filing complaints, the case was not processed, leading the family to relocate for safety.
Thailand's public sector includes about 1.68 million state workers, according to government data. Public sector jobs have traditionally been popular for financial security, though many young Thais now pursue other careers to follow their dreams.
The local government has not yet responded to the allegations, and it remains unclear what consequences the official will face. According to Thai law, officials involved in corruption can face one to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 baht.
The official allegedly skipped work for about 10 years as he focused on his nightclub singing job. Exhaustion from his night job reportedly caused him to miss daytime duties. Nonetheless, he continued receiving salary and bonuses without facing disciplinary action.
Reports suggest he was occasionally summoned to the office to sign documents, which helped him avoid suspicion. This misconduct came to light through Watchdog, a Facebook page with more than a million followers and dedicated to exposing government corruption .
Public reaction highlighted frustration over corruption, reflecting broader concerns. A 2023 report by Transparency International placed Thailand 108th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index .
The report noted, "88 per cent of Thai respondents viewed government corruption as a significant problem, and 24 per cent of those who interacted with public services had paid a bribe in the past year."
In a separate case in Nakhon Ratchasima province, a family was allegedly harassed for six years by their neighbour, a government official. The family reported being bullied and having their property damaged. Despite filing complaints, the case was not processed, leading the family to relocate for safety.
Thailand's public sector includes about 1.68 million state workers, according to government data. Public sector jobs have traditionally been popular for financial security, though many young Thais now pursue other careers to follow their dreams.
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