Former Official Admits to Audio in Exam Cheating Scandal
Former Agriculture Ministry official Krit admits his voice appears in an audio clip linked to an exam cheating scandal but denies involvement in fraud, apologizing to Deputy PM Thongsak for reputational damage.
On July 1, 2025, Phongkorn Saothon (Krit), a former committee member of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and one of the voices in the audio clip regarding an exam fraud scheme, visited Thung Song Hom Police Station with his lawyer Yuttapong Petcahote to declare his innocence and deny any attempt to evade authorities.
The case began on June 30 when Tiwa Karakrasan, representing Deputy Prime Minister Thongsak Thongsi, filed a complaint at the police station against three individuals: Som, Krit (the voices in the recording), and Bangjack (who distributed it). They face charges of joint defamation and computer crimes.
Krit confirmed the voice in the clip was genuinely his, not AI-generated, and apologized to Deputy Prime Minister Thongsak Thongsi for the damage to his reputation caused by the public exposure. He asserted that neither he nor Thongsak was involved in any exam fraud scheme.
Regarding his relationship with Gandapart (Som), Krit clarified they met only recently through a mutual acquaintance and had met just once in Surat Thani province. He denied any special closeness or negotiations for personal gain, stating the audio was recorded since late last year. He has provided a full statement to investigators.
Krit's lawyer revealed that formal charges have not yet been filed because his client came forward voluntarily. The legal team is gathering evidence to file a counter-complaint against those responsible for secretly recording and publicly distributing the private conversation.
