Former Education Welfare Official Faces 35.9 Million Baht Graft Charge
Former education welfare official Somsak Tachaiyo has been indicted for accumulating 35.9 million baht in unexplained wealth despite earning only 16.4 million baht in salary between 2009 and 2015.
On September 21, the National Anti-Corruption Commission announced that it has formally indicted Somsak Tachaiyo, who served as deputy secretary-general and later secretary-general of the Teacher and Educational Personnel Welfare Promotion Committee, for abnormally accumulated wealth totaling 35,991,076.88 baht. The investigation revealed that despite declaring only 16.4 million baht in combined salary and compensation income between 2009 and 2015, Somsak and his family accumulated assets far exceeding legitimate sources. These assets include 3.9 million baht in bank deposits under his name, 5.7 million baht under his spouse's accounts, 19.6 million baht in property registered to his minor children, 5.5 million baht in property in his and his spouse's names, and 1.25 million baht applied toward loan repayment. The commission determined the wealth accumulation was illegitimate and ordered the case forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General for prosecution at the Specialized Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct. The accused faces dismissal and potential seizure of all illicit assets, with enforcement possible within ten years if full asset recovery cannot be achieved immediately.
