Bangkok: The House Committee on Administration is actively investigating the issue of bribery involving nationals, with evidence emerging in four to five cases.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Provincial Administration has been urged to thoroughly investigate the matter, as the Prime Minister expresses hope for a serious resolution.
Mr. Krawee Prisananantakul, a member of parliament for the Bhumjaithai Party and chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Administration, addressed the ongoing issue of citizenship bribes. He noted that the committee had invited the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, along with officials and district chiefs from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces, to clarify allegations that some individuals have exploited government policy by selectively accepting payments from citizens entitled to Thai citizenship. He highlighted the challenges in processing citizenship applications, with reports indicating no more than 100 queues arranged per day, suggesting staffing issues. The committee is exploring solutions, such as increasing personnel or establishing a dedicated channel for processing these applications.
The Administrative Committee has opened a channel for public complaints, resulting in the submission of information by citizens. This includes chat documents showing individuals claiming to be officials demanding bribes for citizenship processing. In one instance, an individual demanded a bribe of 30,000 baht, requesting a 10,000 baht deposit. Lacking funds, the citizen transferred 8,000 baht and planned to provide the remaining amount later. There is a need to investigate whether these actions involve authorities, including village headmen and district chiefs. The committee has gathered all documents for verification by the Department of Provincial Administration.
Mr. Krawee emphasized the importance of punishing those exploiting government policies for personal gain. He stated that the committee is working to combat such corruption and facilitate citizenship applications. At least four or five cases have been reported, with the Department of Provincial Administration already sending a team to gather evidence. Discussions are underway regarding the involvement of specific districts, with approximately three or four districts implicated.
Mr. Krawee highlighted the gravity of the issue for the government, noting that the Prime Minister, who also serves as Minister of the Interior, is pushing for strict action against wrongdoing. While the matter is currently at the district level, the Ministry of Interior is being urged to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the issue.