Corruption Court Sentences Former School Principal to 27 Years in Prison
A former school principal was sentenced to 27 years in prison for improper student admissions at Triam Udomsuksa School during 2016-2018, while two associates each received 18-year sentences on corruption charges.
The Corruption Court has sentenced a former principal of a prestigious school to 27 years in prison, with two other defendants each receiving 18-year sentences in a case involving improper student admissions during 2016-2018. On April 27, 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) released court verdicts from its 78th criminal indictment issued in March 2026. The NACC had initially filed criminal charges on July 10, 2023, against Pramese (surname withheld), the former principal of Triam Udomsuksa School, and associates for establishing student admission criteria for the 2016-2018 academic years in violation of regulations set by the Secondary Education Area Office Zone 1 and the Office of the Basic Education Commission. The defendants were charged under the Criminal Code sections 147, 149, 157, and 162, combined with sections 86 and 91, as well as the Anti-Corruption Act B.E. 2542, sections 103, 122, and 123/1. The NACC approved an appeal on March 2, 2026. The case was filed at the Corruption and Misconduct Court under black case number OR 31/2568 and red case number OR 179/2568 on October 9, 2025, with defendants Pramese (defendant 1), Garrat (surname withheld) (defendant 2), and Dr. Paisal (surname withheld) (defendant 3). The court found all three guilty under sections 149 and 123/1 of the Anti-Corruption Act and section 172 of the 2561 Anti-Corruption Act combined with section 86. For multiple separate offenses combined under section 93, the defendants were sentenced under the heaviest applicable statute. Defendant 1 was convicted of being a government official who solicited, accepted, or agreed to accept assets or benefits improperly for himself or others to perform or refrain from performing duties—whether proper or improper—and received three consecutive nine-year sentences totaling 27 years. Defendants 2 and 3 were convicted of abetting a government official in soliciting or accepting improper benefits and each received three consecutive six-year sentences totaling 18 years. Other charges and claims were dismissed.
