Attapeu authorities have detailed five years of corruption investigations and financial irregularities, including a major treasury case involving more than LAK 90 billion (USD 4 million) in payments made without original supporting documents.
On 22 September, Souvansi Keoviset, head of the Attapeu Provincial Anti-Corruption Agency, presented the results of investigations covering 2021 to 2025 as officials discussed the province’s anti-graft plan for 2026–2030.
Earlier cases involved individual officials, while a larger investigation in 2024 and 2025 involved 38 people, including 24 state officials, over several alleged financial offences.
Organized Corruption
Between 2021 and 2023, authorities prosecuted two cases involving 15 civil servants. The offences included neglect of duty, concealing misconduct, and document forgery.
The cases caused more than LAK 3 billion (USD 134,000) in losses, of which LAK 444 million (USD 19,700) was recovered. Two women were specifically charged with corruption.
In 2024 and 2025, investigators uncovered a larger case involving 38 people, including 24 state officials. The investigation covered organized corruption, foreign currency violations, unlawful business activities, and high-interest lending.
The investigation found discrepancies involving state funds, project and business guarantees, community development funds, and timber-related funds. Authorities also found that VND 1.5 billion (USD 57,000) had been converted into Lao kip and Thai baht as part of unauthorized financial activities.
The same investigation found that more than LAK 90.12 billion (USD 4 million) was paid out from the provincial treasury using notices that lacked original supporting documents.
Authorities classified the withdrawals as unsubstantiated, but did not say the entire amount represented a confirmed loss.
The wider investigation identified confirmed losses of about USD 2.9 million. Authorities said they recovered amounts for a total value of USD 949,000, along with land, vehicles, mobile phones, gold jewelry, and other property.
Accounting for the Dam Disaster
Attapeu is also reviewing funds linked to the 2018 Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam disaster, which killed dozens of people and displaced thousands.
Following the disaster, more than LAK 1 trillion (USD 46 million) and USD 32.46 million was allocated for compensation and recovery efforts. The money helped build 450 temporary houses and 700 permanent homes, and fund 200 infrastructure rehabilitation projects.
Authorities later recovered LAK 415.7 million (USD 18,700) after finding problems with some projects and contractor payments. They also found about USD 9,000 in discrepancies in disaster-relief funds for Sanamxay District, where the flooding caused the greatest damage.
Other Public Funds Under Review
The review did not stop with the corruption cases. Authorities also found issues in the way several public funds and projects were managed.
One review found discrepancies in the National Health Insurance Fund between 2017 and 2023, including problems with paperwork and recorded revenue. The discrepancies totaled LAK 21.85 billion (USD 975,000), although officials said the fund still had enough money to pay for medical treatment.
Authorities found similar problems in the Road Maintenance Fund, where they flagged issues with contracts and procurement. They did not report a specific amount of money lost.
The province also looked at state-funded projects and found nine that had not been implemented. The projects, worth a combined LAK 47.22 billion (USD 2.1 million), were later cancelled.
