Democrat Party Pursues Local Exam Fraud Case, Seeks NACC Witness Protection
Thailand's Democrat Party is pursuing corruption charges against officials involved in rigging civil service recruitment exams, with evidence of fraudulent scoring and intimidation of candidates nationwide being compiled for Thailand's anti
On 4 September 2024, Democrat Party spokesman Pongsagorn Kwanymeaung, alongside legal committee member Paisal Ruengritthi and party policy secretary Pornchai Maranet, updated media on progress investigating corruption in civil service and local administration recruitment exams. They pledged to pursue the case thoroughly to ensure justice for affected candidates.
Paisal said the party has compiled evidence for submission to the NACC, drawing information from participants including exam candidates who paid for positions and intermediaries. Financial trails are under detailed examination. He noted that 72 targeted questions have been prepared as court evidence covering the full corruption operation for NACC review.
The Facebook page "Lawyer Paisal Helps" has received complaints from numerous exam candidates revealing irregularities, notably cases where candidates scored zero despite confidence they answered correctly and entered ID numbers properly. Suspicious invigilator behavior—uniforms marked with different agency insignia and university ID cards—and refusal to allow candidates to check scores or correct errors have also been flagged.
"Insiders are now turning on each other," Paisal said. "As counsel, I am using professional techniques to verify facts from those involved. Many fear prosecution and are negotiating with NACC for protection and witness status. Once evidence and financial chains trace to the main perpetrators, we will pursue them through the system and hold another press conference to expose the full truth."
Pornchai reported that complaints came from candidates nationwide—Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Trat, and Songkhla among them—who traveled to Bangkok at their own cost seeking answer sheet verification. On 6–7 May, at Phra Samut Chedi district, Samut Prakan province, they witnessed suspicious procedures: harsh restrictions requiring removal of personal items, phones, watches, and long sleeves; mystery officials hovering nearby; and when candidates challenged signatures, ID codes, or requested sheets and answers for comparison, groups of people closed in, intimidated them, and rejected their complaints immediately.
Pornchai also flagged anomalies in the OMR scanning system marking candidates zero because they forgot to enter ID numbers, despite two invigilator verification rounds in the exam room. Some candidates disputed that signatures and numbers on answer sheets were not theirs but were refused permission to inspect their test booklets as proof.
"These candidates are hardworking temporary municipal or local administration employees," Pornchai said. "Yet they became victims of corruption. Some were told by locals: 'You didn't pass because you didn't pay.' If a new merit list is announced, they lose rights immediately—their sheets were falsified to show zero marks. The party confirms it will pursue this to the end and cooperate with all sectors."
The investigation continues to track the network of perpetrators and brokers facilitating exam fraud.
