Attapeu authorities have detailed 5 years of corruption investigations and monetary irregularities, together with a significant treasury case involving greater than LAK 90 billion (USD 4 million) in funds made with out authentic supporting paperwork.
On 22 September, Souvansi Keoviset, head of the Attapeu Provincial Anti-Corruption Company, introduced the outcomes of investigations protecting 2021 to 2025 as officers mentioned the province’s anti-graft plan for 2026–2030.
Earlier instances concerned particular person officers, whereas a bigger investigation in 2024 and 2025 concerned 38 folks, together with 24 state officers, over a number of alleged monetary offences.
Organized Corruption
Between 2021 and 2023, authorities prosecuted two instances involving 15 civil servants. The offences included neglect of responsibility, concealing misconduct, and doc forgery.
The instances precipitated greater than LAK 3 billion (USD 134,000) in losses, of which LAK 444 million (USD 19,700) was recovered. Two girls have been particularly charged with corruption.
In 2024 and 2025, investigators uncovered a bigger case involving 38 folks, together with 24 state officers. The investigation lined organized corruption, overseas foreign money violations, illegal enterprise actions, and high-interest lending.
The investigation discovered discrepancies involving state funds, challenge and enterprise ensures, group improvement funds, and timber-related funds. Authorities additionally discovered that VND 1.5 billion (USD 57,000) had been transformed into Lao kip and Thai baht as a part of unauthorized monetary actions.
The identical investigation discovered that greater than LAK 90.12 billion (USD 4 million) was paid out from the provincial treasury utilizing notices that lacked authentic supporting paperwork.
Authorities categorized the withdrawals as unsubstantiated, however didn’t say the whole quantity represented a confirmed loss.
The broader investigation recognized confirmed losses of about USD 2.9 million. Authorities mentioned they recovered quantities for a complete worth of USD 949,000, together with land, autos, cellphones, gold jewellery, and different property.
Accounting for the Dam Catastrophe
Attapeu can also be reviewing funds linked to the 2018 Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam catastrophe, which killed dozens of individuals and displaced 1000’s.
Following the catastrophe, greater than LAK 1 trillion (USD 46 million) and USD 32.46 million was allotted for compensation and restoration efforts. The cash helped construct 450 non permanent homes and 700 everlasting houses, and fund 200 infrastructure rehabilitation tasks.
Authorities later recovered LAK 415.7 million (USD 18,700) after discovering issues with some tasks and contractor funds. In addition they discovered about USD 9,000 in discrepancies in disaster-relief funds for Sanamxay District, the place the flooding precipitated the best harm.
Different Public Funds Beneath Assessment
The assessment didn’t cease with the corruption instances. Authorities additionally discovered points in the way in which a number of public funds and tasks have been managed.
One assessment discovered discrepancies within the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Fund between 2017 and 2023, together with issues with paperwork and recorded income. The discrepancies totaled LAK 21.85 billion (USD 975,000), though officers mentioned the fund nonetheless had sufficient cash to pay for medical remedy.
Authorities discovered related issues within the Street Upkeep Fund, the place they flagged points with contracts and procurement. They didn’t report a selected amount of cash misplaced.
The province additionally checked out state-funded tasks and located 9 that had not been applied. The tasks, price a mixed LAK 47.22 billion (USD 2.1 million), have been later cancelled.
