Lampang: The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is actively working to resolve two corruption cases involving the Mae Moh Power Plant Fund, following complaints from local residents filed since mid-last year. More than 70 individuals have been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for prosecution, with one case still awaiting the investigation team’s findings. The ERC plans to introduce stringent control measures, reducing the project’s scope by over half.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Poolpat Leesombatpaiboon, Secretary-General of the ERC, explained that the dissemination of information by the former chief of the Mae Moh Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) and villagers of Sop Pad, Mae Moh District, Lampang Province, raised concerns about possible budget mismanagement in four projects worth 2.5 million baht. The ERC promptly initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint on June 10, 2024. Concurrently, the former SAO chief filed a complaint with the Mae Moh Police Station, leading to the case being forwarded to the NACC in Lampang Province. However, the NACC determined that the case did not fall under its jurisdiction and returned it to the police station.
The ERC office also instructed the Mae Moh Community Area Development Committee (MADC) to investigate the matter per regulations, forming a fact-finding committee on August 7, 2024, to examine allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest in the Mae Moh Electricity Development Fund Community Project. The MADC later informed the ERC office that there was insufficient evidence of corruption, leading to the investigation’s termination.
Dr. Poolpat stated that the Energy Regulatory Commission tasked a central fact-finding committee to gather information from both the petitioner and defendant. The initial findings implicated approximately 70 individuals. The fact-finding committee’s report prompted the ERC to forward the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for legal proceedings. The ERC is awaiting the fact-finding committee’s summary report on other related projects.
Dr. Poolpat emphasized the ERC’s commitment to overseeing the Electricity Development Fund, ensuring budget allocation aligns with legal intentions focused on sustainable and transparent development. In the 2025 budget, the ERC tightened controls on the Mae Moh Electricity Development Fund’s projects, approving 337 out of 1,003 requested projects and rejecting 666. An MOU with the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) was signed on December 16, 2022, to establish a governance system that minimizes corruption risks and optimizes fund use for public benefit.