Attapeu officials indicted over widescale corruption

Attapeu authorities have confiscated the assets of 21 provincial officials and other individuals who allegedly conspired in fraudulent activities, resulting in losses estimated at US$2.5 million, 17.3 billion kip, and 15 billion dong.

Chairman of the Attapeu Provincial Party-State Inspection Organisation, Mr Khamvanh Chanthakhot.

Chairman of the Attapeu Provincial Party-State Inspection Organisation, Mr Khamvanh Chanthakhot, last week made a public announcement of the organisation’s findings following a detailed enquiry into the widescale illicit use of public funds.
The organisation’s investigations revealed that in April last year a foreign company paid US$2,000,000 to Attapeu province to finance the upgrade of Road No. 9004 running from the Xepian bridge in Attapeu province to the border with Pakxong district in Champassak province.
This money was paid into the Attapeu provincial treasury account.
On August 30, the Attapeu Provincial Police Command received a complaint from the Attapeu Provincial Government Office regarding a Mr Soulixay Souliyalay, an employee at the Provincial Government Office, who had allegedly created false documents enabling him to withdraw the money for illegal purposes, after which he fled the area.
Provincial authoirities ordered the Provincial Police Command to carry out enquiries, which revealed close links between provincial officials.
A provincial taskforce was established in conjunction with a central taskforce to conduct a deeper investigation, which found that large sums of money had been withdrawn from the treasury account illegally, amounting to over US$2.5 million, 17 billion kip, and 1.5 billion Vietnamese dong.
The extent of the loss caused a big dent in the province’s finances, especially the loss of foreign currency, while investigations revealed that government officials, members of the public, and business operators had colluding in fraudulent transactions.
The taskforce found that money had been siphoned off from company funds, guaranteed funds from the Department of Planning and Investment, aid provided by Vietnam, community development funds set up by the Department of Energy and Mines, a fund for dead tree trunks and other trees, the Sanamxay District Disaster Fund, the Business Guarantee Fund, and state funding.
Investigations carried out by the provincial and central taskforces have targeted government employees, business operators, and other individuals involved in the money laundering scheme.
Investigations are ongoing into the activities of 37 suspects, with detention orders issued for 21 suspects.
To date, 18,475,762,500 kip, 59,400 baht, US$57,000 and other monies have been recovered from suspects in the case.
The provincial and central taskforces have now wrapped up their enquiries and the case has been forward to the Attapeu provincial People’s Council, which will file a lawsuit with the People’s Court.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update March 25, 2025)