Police are hunting for a local official who has allegedly embezzled over 31 million baht from the account of the municipal office of Buntharik sub-district in in Thailand’s north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani.

The 36-year-old finance official, who worked at the office, has not reported to work since June 10^th and told his relatives that he was going to visit friends in another province.

The municipal mayor told Buntharik district police that he was not familiar with the online financial transaction system and assigned the missing official to handle online financial transactions, including cash transfers, and had given him the password.

After the official had failed to show up to work for several days, without explanation, his suspicions grew and he checked the account.

The official had allegedly been withdrawing money since May, in amounts ranging from 200,000 baht up to one million at a time. 47 withdrawals were made, totalling 31.7 million baht.

To ensure that the municipality can continue to meet its financial obligations, the mayor says he has sought permission from the provincial governor to draw on a reserve fund.