An ongoing probe
has suggested that seven government officials, most of them pharmacists, have
committed grave disciplinary offences in embezzling a huge amount of pseudoephedrine-containing
tablets out of state hospitals.
The missing pseudoephedrine tablets have raised great concern because
they can be used to produce methamphetamine.
"If found guilty, the maximum punishment is dismissal from the
services without any severance pay or pension," Public Health Minister
Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday. The probe was ongoing, he said.
He added that even after the panel headed by the Public Health
Ministry's inspector-general concluded its probe, the accused officials would
still have a chance to defend themselves before the relevant civil-service
subcommittees.
To date, the probe has pointed the finger at seven government officials
at the Kamalasai Hospital in Kalasin, the Phu Sing Hospital in Si Sa Ket, the
Udon Thani Hospital in Udon Thani, the Thong Saen Khan Hospital in Uttaradit,
and the Hot and Doi Lor hospitals in Chiang |Mai.
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) senior official Pol
Lt-Colonel Sa-ard Sunthorn said his team had gathered much information on the
medicine-embezzlement cases in Chiang Mai but these cases had not yet been
transferred to the DSI.
"We will investigate further if the cases come under DSI
jurisdiction," he said.
Before the DSI can officially take up any case, it must win approval
from its board.
To date, investigation of medicine embezzlement at state hospitals is
still under police jurisdiction.
"A primary investigation has shown that the medicines went missing
from the Hot and Doi Lor hospitals. We have established another committee to
look into the case further to determine why they have gone missing,"
Chiang Mai public-health deputy chef Dr Surasing Wisarurat said.
Meanwhile, police yesterday announced the seizure of 500,000
methamphetamine tablets and 5.4 kilos of crystal methamphetamine.
"Police at a checkpoint in Lamphun intercepted a pick-up last
Friday and found the illicit drugs," Li police station superintendent
Colonel Sompoj Sonkanok said.
He said the pick-up's driver, Pirun Rittitraipop, 33, was now in
detention.
According to Sompoj, the suspect confessed he was paid to deliver the
illicit drugs to Bangkok. Pirun is now charged with having an illicit drug
(type 1) with an intention to sell.
An informed source said Pirun was fluent in French because he had been
a mercenary in France for a long time.
News Desk
The Nation
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