Prayong Preeyachit, secretary general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), said on Thursday that all the investigation were expected to be done in time by June.

Most of those found guilty so far were government officials at the operational level, on committees or involved in policy, he said.

They will subject to a disciplinary penalty and civil liability, he said.

The PACC has a name list of more than 20 per cent of the alleged culprits in the government sector, he added.

Prayong said for the private sector the main culprits in the corruption scandal were surveyors and rice mills.

The total financial damage liable to the state is as high as Bt115 billion, the PACC secretary general said, adding that responding to the issue is a challenge but the state has to take action to hold the culprits accountable.

Prayong said investigations of 986 graft cases concerning the government’s rice-pledging scheme were underway and mainly involved examining oral and document evidence.

Although the dates have not yet been finalised, the committee organising the royal cremation ceremonies has already come up with a draft schedule for the important occasion.

The late king ruled Thailand for seven decades from 1946 to 2016. Throughout his reign, he was dedicated to his people and widely loved and revered throughout society.

Every day in recent months, people have flocked to the Grand Palace to pay respects before his body.

The draft schedule of the royal cremation ceremonies was released this week, after HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn attended a meeting of the committee on Wednesday evening.

The five-day schedule includes a royal merit-making ceremony at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace on the first day.

On the second day, the royal cremation will take place at the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang.

The royal remains will be collected on the third day.

Another royal merit-making ceremony will be held on the fourth day to bless the remains, which will occur at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

On the fifth day, food will be served to monks at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall before the Royal Urn is brought to the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

Six grand processions are planned for the ceremonies.

During the five days, there will also be performances and exhibitions in honour of the late king.

The Court of Appeal on Monday upheld the death penalty against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, who had been convicted of one of the most shocking crimes in Thailand’s history.

Police arrested Zaw Lin on Koh Tao – a part of Surat Thani province – about two weeks after the crime took place. Wai Phyo, or Win Zaw Tun, was later arrested at a pier in Surat Thani town.

In a statement, the Miller family said: “We remain confident that this is the correct decision.”

However the family hoped Thai authorities would show leniency in relation to the death sentence.

The Court of Appeal on Monday upheld the death penalty against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, Myanmar migrant workers in one of the most shocking crimes in Thailand’s history.

The gruesome crime made headlines in Thailand and across the world.

Police arrested defendant Zaw Lin on Koh Tao – a part of Surat Thani province – about two weeks after the crime took place. Wai Phyo (Win Zaw Tun), the second defendant, was later arrested at a pier in Surat Thani town.

In a statement, the Miller family said, “We remain confident that this is the correct decision.” However the family hoped the Thai authorities will show leniency in relation to the death sentence.

Defence lawyers yesterday that they would bring the case to the Supreme Court.

“We have always said that we did not want innocent men sentenced nor guilty parties acquitted on a technicality. In the end the evidence is overwhelming and we feel that justice has been done.”

“During autopsy, semen in Hannah’s body had been found and this was analysed in the accredited Institute of Forensic Medicine and Pathology in Bangkok well before the two guilty men were detained.”

This find triggered an extensive DNA testing of all workers and inhabitants around the crime scene, eventually leading the police to the link they sought and to Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo,” the family said.

Their DNA was retested in court and found to match the results from samples taken at the autopsy. “The defence team was then given the opportunity to retest the autopsy samples and they declined, despite… our requests to do so. That moment was telling,” the statement said.

“Both defendants admitted in court to being at the crime scene that night, just feet from where the murder weapon was kept (and replaced) and metres from where the murders took place.    “The claim they saw and heard nothing in the moonlight. Our own visits to the beach on Koh Tao under a similar moon make this claim impossible for us to believe.”

“In court, we also heard from them that they had told their first lawyers, appointed by the Solicitors Council of Thailand, and anyone else that asked, that they were guilty. This included fellow prisoners, doctors, interpreters and the police.

“Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo will now have time in jail to reflect on their horrific crimes.”

A tri-party talk between the school, the demolition company and the property owner was held at the Phra Khanong District Office on Wednesday.

It followed demolition work causing dust that affected the students – some of whom reportedly fell sick.

The compromise agreement resulted in the demolition team promising to complete the task in one month, during which time the school will conduct classes elsewhere for students’ safety and convenience.

The building owner’s representative also promised not to do anything on the property for two years following the demolition.

The owner of the contractor company, Somporn Srijanjara, told parents that the demolition would cause dust despite workers’ attempt to sprinkle water and cover the building, which is higher than the school building, resulting in dust falling onto the school.

“The 20-year national strategy pushed by this government has been approved by both the people and the national assembly. If the new government disagrees, it has to follow the process of both public opinion gathering and passing the Parliament,” Wissanu said.

“If not, all the Cabinet, the Parliament, Courts, and independent agencies will be obliged to following the plan which will inflict a severe penalty both politically and legally.”

Wissanu made his remarks during a national forum entitled “Public Administration in the Reform, National Strategy, and Reconciliation Building Plan,” on Thursday.

The deputy prime minister also urged all government agencies to change their mindset to be prepared for all the changes to come.

He said that the changes were the result of globalization and the demand of the government as well as the people. Wissanu said prime minister [Prayut Chan-o-cha] wanted all agencies to be aware of the trend in order to be prepared and be able to work in collaboration.

Public administration has three major points, Wissanu explained. They were administration and development, law enforcement, and solving immediate problems.

In the referendum-endorsed constitution, reform plans involving seven main points were laid out, he said. They were political, public administration, law, justice system, education, and economic reforms, he said.

He added that all the points were unprecedented and said that the new charter also stipulated how it would be carried out, who would be responsible for it, and when it must be finished.

Regarding national strategy, Wissanu said that the government had set down six main issues to pursue, including security, development, competitiveness, and environment. Wissanu encouraged government agencies to imitate the “big picture” and adapt their own agencies.

Pornthep Buranaburidet, a deputy community leader, said the notification stated that the occupants of the homes had agreed to move out.

However, Pornthep said the occupants of six of the 10 homes did not want to leave.

“We still insist on our agreement with the BMA, which was made in front of the public last year, and we will arrange the press conference on March 6 to strengthen our standpoint that the community can coexist with the archaeological site,” he said.

So far 12 houses have been demolished.

The BMA said Thursday that it would cooperate with police and the military in the demolition on Monday

It also stated that it would sue four of the community’s leaders for alleged illegal intrusion on public land.

The clip for the zero-discrimination campaign is playing at waiting rooms, revealing how some people with HIV have overcome discrimination thanks to support from their communities. The video also features a short message from UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for Thailand Chalatit Tantiwut, who in his own right a famous singer.

“Discriminating against anybody for any reason is always out of bounds,” Chalatit said, “Making music is what I do best and I think it’s my duty to contribute to society and make some noise about zero discrimination.”

He encouraged everyone to join the Zero Discrimination movement.

Hospitals shows the video in their waiting rooms for the next four weeks with the aim of raising awareness about the rights of all patients to non-discriminatory treatment.

It is a part of the campaign conducted through the collaboration of The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

“More than 30 years since HIV was detected in Thailand, stigma still remains a major challenge,” said Dr. Jessada Chokdamrongsuk, Director-General, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. “Thailand is committed to ensuring health-care settings are safe and supportive environments.”