Bangkok: Phatthana Promphat, the Minister of Public Health, has addressed allegations surrounding a former member of his working team, Dr. Win Thanapachrapokin, who is implicated in a civil service examination corruption case. Phatthana clarified that while Dr. Win was part of his working team, he did not have any personal acquaintance with him. The minister emphasized that Dr. Win's inclusion in the team was based on a recommendation, and he assured that the ongoing investigation into the corruption allegations would proceed without any interference.
According to Thai News Agency, Minister Phatthana provided detailed insights into Dr. Win's involvement with his team, stating that Dr. Win served as the head of his working group during October 2015. The minister noted that he was not personally familiar with Dr. Win before his inclusion, as he had been informed by his team that Dr. Win had past experience working in different areas and on various committees. The short-lived nature of the previous government meant that their paths crossed only during initial introductions.
Addressing concerns about the selection process for his working team, Minister Phatthana acknowledged the need for more stringent evaluation procedures to prevent any future issues. He confirmed that the corruption investigation related to the local government examination would be thorough and unaffected by any personal connections. Phatthana reiterated his lack of personal ties to the individuals involved and ensured that there would be no interference from himself, the minister, or other team members in the investigation.