Anti-Corruption Panel Probes Local Exam Fraud Scheme
A parliamentary anti-corruption committee is investigating a civil service exam fraud scheme involving state officials, with ten civil servants already arrested in Nonthaburi as authorities work to identify the masterminds behind the scam.
On July 2, 2569 at 9:30 AM, the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Anti-Misconduct, chaired by Asaploet Sanntriiphop, a Pheu Thai MP from Sisaket, convened to examine state officials' involvement in civil service and local government recruitment examination fraud. The committee summoned Deputy Commander Jarunyakiart Paankaew of the Central Investigation Police and investigating officers to brief them on the case.
Asaploet revealed that the committee invited police officials involved in both the local examination fraud case and the arrest of the Phuket provincial official. The committee will question the progress of the investigation, including audio recordings. Following today's briefing, the committee will reconvene next week and summon related agencies including the Department of Local Administration, examining universities, and will review findings from the Interior Ministry.
When asked whether authorities can ultimately identify the masterminds, Asaploet stated that the committee is concerned about the case's progress and invited the Central Investigation Police to provide additional details about their investigation and current findings. Public attention focuses on ten civil servants arrested in Nonthaburi and who the principal offenders are, as local examination fraud is a serious matter.
Asaploet noted his party has fought this issue since 2023, having previously discussed it with former Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul when he served as Interior Minister. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2567 between the Interior Ministry and five agencies to combat local examination fraud, resulting in the first prosecution in 2569. This confirms Pheu Thai's genuine opposition to such corruption, marking the beginning of dismantling the fraud network.
During a recent Pheu Thai party meeting on June 28, members agreed that regardless of who commits fraud—within the party or any organization—they will receive no protection and cases will be pursued fully.
"Pheu Thai takes this very seriously," Asaploet said. "We will pursue this without selective prosecution, targeting mid-level and high-level offenders. The committee will follow through completely and implement preventive measures to ensure this does not happen again."
When asked about proposals for local authorities to conduct exams instead of the central government, Asaploet noted that corruption exists at both levels. Examples have emerged in Maha Sarakham and Kalasin provinces with convictions of subdistrict administrators. The solution lies not in where exams are held, but in improving procedures and safeguards. He suggested studying how legal, prosecutorial, and judicial exams avoid such corruption, and called for reviewing the draft Local Government Personnel Management Act currently before the Senate, which could result in legislative changes.
