The State Audit Office (SAO) investigation into alleged misuse of funds by Thai PBS has prompted questions from Thai PBS over the audit process after confidential documents, which are still officially incomplete, and still in draft form, have been leaked to the public.
The SAO held a press conference on Wednesday (14 October) concerning its inspection into Thai PBS funds. The SAO stated that it had received a complaint from a Thai PBS employee over alleged misuse of funds, particularly the outsourcing of guest presenters at allegedly exorbitant fees. Some Thai PBS staff also faced allegations of misusing company resources.
The Auditor General set up an investigation committee on 26 January to examine the alleged spending irregularities, operational performance, and misconduct by high-ranking staff members. Between 2 and 9 October, two audit reports concerning procurement and operational efficiency were issued, while the third report related to staff misconduct has yet to be completed.
However, the third investigation report was leaked to the public before it was delivered to Thai PBS, prompting disapproval of the SAO’s auditing standards by Thai PBS. In the documents the SAO found the director of Thai PBS and 10 other staff members guilty and demanded that they pay 85.22 million baht in compensation to the state.
The alleged liability stems from their approval of allowances for guest presenters, which the SAO considered a violation of the regulations.
Thai PBS Deputy Director Piset Chiyasak noted that the leaked documents caused reputational damage to both Thai PBS and the staff members whose names appeared in the report. He also urged the SAO to maintain professional standards when auditing other agencies, adding that Thai PBS has always welcomed the inspections by the SAO, but Thai PBS was never given an opportunity to clarify in the latest audit.
Thai PBS subsequently submitted a petition to the National Audit Committee, seeking clarification on how and why the confidential investigation reports had been leaked.
Thai PBS Deputy Director Adisak Limparungpatanakij disclosed that the SAO had submitted a letter to Thai PBS in March in which it expressed concerns over Thai PBS coverage of the anniversary of the collapse of the 33-storey Office of the Auditor General building after a powerful earthquake that struck central Myanmar last year. The SAO was concerned that the report could damage the SAO’s reputation.
At the time, the SAO urged Thai PBS to maintain neutrality in its news reporting and refrain from influencing public opinion. Adisak speculated that this might explain why the SAO intensive audit of Thai PBS.
Meanwhile, the SAO claimed that the investigation had been conducted in response to a complaint, asserting that it was a routine audit. It denied the allegation that the investigation was politically motivated.
The Thai Public Broadcasting Service, known as Thai PBS, is a Thai public television network established in 2008. Its funds come directly from revenue earmarked from liquor and tobacco taxes. Thai PBS has the authority to collect 1.5% of sin taxes to a maximum amount not exceeding 2 billion baht per fiscal year.
Coincidentally, MP Supachai Jaisamut, Chair of the ruling Bhumjaithai Party’s Legal Affairs Division, has proposed an amendment to the 2008 Thai Public Broadcasting Service Act. This came a month prior to the leak of the SAO audit documents. The public hearing period concluded on Wednesday (14 October).
The key point in the proposed amendment will change the Thai PBS funding allocation from sin taxes to the state budget. If it passes, Thai PBS funding will require annual approval by parliament.
The proposal has faced backlash from other stakeholders concerned about public media independence.