Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered “Ekkapong Panyam” to be dismissed from his position as Mayor of Khlong Luang due to corruption related to COVID-19 relief bags.
On September 26, 2024, it was reported that Anutin Charnvirakul signed the dismissal letter on September 25, 2024, in response to allegations regarding irregularities in the procurement of relief bags intended to assist citizens affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evidence provided by the Governor of Pathum Thani indicated that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had investigated Ekkapong Panyam regarding inappropriate and corrupt procurement practices aimed at benefiting a private company during the purchase of relief bags in 2021.
The ACC found sufficient grounds for criminal wrongdoing by Ekkapong Panyam.
The Minister of Interior concluded that Ekkapong knowingly engaged in wrongful actions by approving the procurement of relief bags for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic without following proper procedures, thus harming the municipality.
Ekkapong reportedly sought approval to allocate 11 million baht from the municipal reserve for 20,000 relief bags at a unit price of 550 baht each, prior to conducting proper surveys or registrations of beneficiaries, and had pre-arranged the quantity with a private company.
Due to purchasing more bags than the registered needy people, Ekkapong failed to distribute the bags properly, indicating mismanagement and intent to gain improper benefits, leading to the dismissal.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
