Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has issued a stern warning, during a meeting of senior executives from 50 district offices, saying that officials found to be involved in corruption will be strictly dealt with.

Without mentioning names, the governor told those at the meeting that he had received a report of an official who had demanded a 50,000 baht kickback from a businessman for the granting of a license. The demand was subsequently increased to 300,000 baht.

He claimed that he had the evidence of the demand for a bribe and warned that a district chief officer must be held accountable for the misconduct of their subordinates and must make sure that their staff are not involved in corruption.

The governor also urged the district chief officers to be more pro-active in addressing pressing problems, without having to wait for his instructions, citing expected flooding as the rainy season has arrived.