Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission’s revelations about corruption came after scrutiny of information from 2009 to 2014, before the Prayut government took office.

He said the Commission had found irregularities such as fake receipts, excessive reimbursement of state funds and use of sub-standard raw material. He said Prayut had instructed the anti-graft agency to gather evidence carefully and punish all government officials regardless of their ranking if there is evidence against them.

“The PM announced clearly that his government would not allow corruption and the investigation must incriminate all the guilty and ensure speedy punishment. Corruption has cost the country dearly and affected foreign investors’ confidence in Thailand,” Sansern said. Government officials guilty of corruption may have to pay compensation for damage incurred by the state, he added.

“The PM has called on the private sector not to collude with corrupt officials and if they have any lead about corruption, they must tip-off officials immediately,” he said.