More senior officials to be investigated

More senior officials to be investigated

Permanent secretary transferred after probe

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

More senior officials at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry will be investigated for possible corruption, along with former permanent secretary Wallop Ploytubtim, deputy minister Poldej Pinprateep said yesterday. The ministry will set up a disciplinary investigation panel to look into allegations against the officials, he said.

Mr Poldej refused to give the names of the officials or the offences they allegedly committed, saying only that four to five officials were being looked into.

The new investigations were triggered by information gathered during a probe into allegations against Mr Wallop, who was transferred to the PM's Office on Wednesday for the alleged misuse of the ministry's welfare fund.

Social Security and Human Development Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham defended his decision to transfer Mr Wallop after he and his deputy had been accused of being biased.

The minister made the statement in response to a petition submitted to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Wednesday. The petition, filed by a group of officials at the ministry, urged the prime minister to investigate Mr Paiboon and Mr Poldej for making public an adultery allegation made against Mr Wallop.

The petition, lodged by three unidentified people claiming to be social development ministry officials, also accused the two of having ulterior motives in running the ministry and bringing chaos and disunity to the ministry.

Gen Surayud on Wednesday ordered the permanent transfer of Mr Wallop to an advisory post at the Prime Minister's Office.

The transfer of Mr Wallop was a result of an investigation by a fact-finding panel, which said the permanent secretary was involved in the misuse of the ministry's welfare fund.

Mr Paiboon said there was no reason or motive for him to persecute Mr Wallop or push for an appointment of a new permanent secretary.

He said the investigation into the alleged adultery and corruption was justified and ordered following careful consideration by himself and Mr Poldej.

''I've always given Mr Wallop justice and mercy.

''I have never meant to tarnish his reputation or damage the ministry. On the contrary, I have tried to do good things for everyone,'' said Mr Paiboon, adding that the ministry's reputation would have been worse if they had taken no action at all.

''We have no intention of putting someone else in Mr Wallop's position, and since we're about to end our term, we will leave the matter to the new government,'' he said.

Mr Paiboon added he did not stop at the transfer of Mr Wallop, but had also set up a committee to develop the ministry's governance system to prevent a recurrence of similar problems.

Mr Wallop said yesterday he had not yet seen the official transfer order but confirmed his plan to file a complaint with the Civil Service Commission and the Administrative Court.

Mr Poldej also said he was not worried about the petition.

''Anybody has the right to think and feel differently, but we have explanations for everything we have done. I can assure you that our actions do not come from prejudice against anyone,'' said Mr Poldej.

He said Mr Wallop has the right to respond by complaining to the court, releasing an open letter or gathering the signatures of ministry officials to support his appeal.

Mr Poldej said he sympathises with Mr Wallop, but as a deputy minister, he has to ensure that laws and discipline are enforced.