Fifty officials sanctioned for corruption in Saravan
Fifty provincial authorities in southern Saravan province under investigation by inspection authorities have been found to have been receiving bribes over the past five years. The Provincial Committee of the State and Party Inspection, Mr Khamchan Chemsamone reported at the third meeting on work inspection in the prefecture last week that many billions of kip were lost as a result of the corruption. These 50 wrongdoers were found guilty of embezzlement after nine targets were checked. The inspection authorities estimate that the state has lost more than five billion kip due to the payment of bribes to these corrupt officials. Provincial authorities were able to recoup a total of only 67 million kip from the 50 corrupt officials. Based on the report tabled at the meeting, the provincial inspection authorities found there had been 50 wrongdoers involved in the illegal felling, purchase and sale of timber, with about 9,000 cubic metres of timber thought to have been illegally removed. Stemming from that, six wrongdoers were punished, 21 were educated, five had their positions dissolved or were reposted to lower ranking positions, while 18 members of the security forces and civil service were expelled.
