Thai official, inactive for 10 years, continues to receive salary while working at nightclub

BANGKOK (SCMP): A government official in Thailand has been accused of receiving a salary and bonuses for a decade without ever completing a proper day of work, raising renewed concerns about public sector corruption in the country.

The unidentified official reportedly held a position at the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department in Ang Thong province in central Thailand.

According to the newspaper The Thaiger, the official did not attend his government job for about 10 years because he had been focused on his singing gig at a nightclub.

The official was reportedly constantly exhausted from working at night, which led him to skip work during the day. However, he was neither fired nor penalised and continued to receive his salary and bonuses.

Occasionally, he would be summoned to the office to receive reprimands and sign documents at the mayor’s request, a tactic reportedly used to avoid scrutiny.

His misconduct was revealed on a Facebook page called Watchdog, a forum dedicated to exposing government wrongdoings with 1.1 million followers.

The official was reportedly tired from late-night work at the nightclub, often skipping daytime shifts. – Photo: Shutterstock via SCMP

The local government has not responded to this revelation, and it remains unclear whether or how the official will be punished.

According to Thai law, officials involved in corruption could face one to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 baht (US$60 to US$600).

Online commenters expressed outrage at the official’s misconduct and the government’s lack of accountability. The case also resonated deeply as it highlights the widespread perception of public sector corruption in Thailand.

Thailand scored 35 out of 100 and ranked 108th out of 180 countries on the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index published by the leading anti-corruption NGO, Transparency International.

The report indicated that 88 per cent of Thai respondents viewed government corruption as a significant problem, and 24 per cent of those who interacted with public services had paid a bribe in the past year.

In the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Thailand scored 35 out of 100, ranking 108th among 180 countries. – Photo: Shutterstock via SCMP

In early September, a family in northeastern Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province sought assistance on social media after being bullied for six years by their neighbour, a government official, causing significant emotional and psychological distress.

After failing to blackmail the family, the neighbour – who is the son of a high-profile police officer – allegedly threw glass bottles and trash into their home and damaged their surveillance cameras with laser lights.

He has not faced charges for these offenses. Instead, several family members received legal threats. Although the family attempted to file complaints against the bully’s father, the police did not process the case.

The family reported that they relocated to escape the son and his father out of concern for their personal safety.

Thailand has about 1.68 million state workers, including 421,000 civil servants, according to government data.

Public sector jobs were once popular among young people due to the financial security and decent welfare packages they offered. However, an increasing number of Thai youth have chosen to pursue riskier career paths to follow their dreams in recent years. – South China Morning Post