Parliament Investigates Alleged Paralympic Committee Budget Corruption
A reserve MP filed a parliamentary complaint alleging widespread budget corruption at the Paralympic Committee of Thailand, including fake equipment purchases and phantom competitions. Opposition Chief Whip Prasit Watcharasinthu accepted the case and pledged a multi-committee investigation with potential referral to anti-corruption authorities. The allegations center on funds meant for disabled athletes who compete internationally for Thailand.
On November 4, 2026, at Parliament, reserve MP Akarawut Phongthanachakul led a group of disabled persons to submit a complaint letter to Prasit Watcharasinthu, a party-list MP for the People's Party and Deputy Party Leader, in his capacity as Chairman of the Opposition Coordination Committee. The complaint requests the use of parliamentary mechanisms to investigate alleged corruption and budget embezzlement by the President of the Paralympic Committee of Thailand. The allegations include inflated budget disbursements for organizing sports competitions and purchasing equipment for disabled athletes. The complainants claim to have witnesses and evidence showing that equipment purchases were fabricated, competitions were staged, and several overseas projects never actually existed. They urge the Opposition Chief Whip to refer the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the State Audit Office, and other relevant agencies, describing the alleged actions as despicable theft of the happiness, hopes, and sweat of disabled persons who have sacrificed their bodies to bring honor to Thailand on the world stage. Prasit responded that the complaint and allegations would require summoning all parties to provide information and hear all sides. If proven true, he characterized it as severe corruption, as budget allocations for disabled sports associations are expected to reach athletes directly and fund skill development. Any diversion of funds for personal gain would be a grave offense, akin to cheating the nation's future and athletes' opportunities. Prasit noted existing budget oversight mechanisms but acknowledged the association receives some funding from the Sports Authority of Thailand's development fund, warranting examination of whether allocation criteria were followed and where vulnerabilities exist. He emphasized the investigation would require cooperation with other relevant House committees. Natthawut Buaphratum, a party-list MP for the People's Party and member/advisor of the Committee on Children, Youth, Women, Elderly, Disabled, Ethnic Groups, and Sexual Diversity, added that the issue involves multiple committees requiring joint consideration. He noted the Speaker's cooperation would be sought, as no single committee can act unilaterally on a matter requiring integration for the benefit of all disabled persons and their families, not just athletes.
