Anti-Corruption Agency Probes Billion-Baht Trail in Exam Fraud Case

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is accelerating its investigation into local government exam fraud after uncovering over one billion baht in financial flows linked to a 2021 cheating scandal. On August 20, 2025, Surapong Inthawarun, Secretary-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, revealed that investigators are examining the financial trails of previously arrested suspects and have found more than one billion baht in circulating funds connected to the 2021 local government exam corruption case.

Inthawarun said the commission has decided to consolidate separate investigations into a special joint case after concluding that the offences involved a coordinated group. He stated that details about which individuals are involved, and whether the case connects to politicians or senior officials, cannot be disclosed while investigations are ongoing, but the task force has information and will expand the probe to all relevant parties.

For the financial investigation, the Anti-Money Laundering Office will assist. Inthawarun stressed that the commission has never faced pressure from political actors and that anyone implicated by evidence must be held accountable without exception. Charges will be pursued as either criminal or civil matters depending on the evidence.

Inthawarun emphasized that the Anti-Corruption Commission is an independent body and a pillar of the state. Past prosecutions have resulted in convictions at a rate of 98 percent. Despite the exam fraud case involving over 800,000 documents, he confirmed that clarity will be achieved within six months from June 2025. The investigation will employ technology to accelerate the process and will consider separating charges by category to speed up and clarify findings.