Government Assures Local Authorities on Civil Service Exam Fraud Probe
Government officials assured local authorities that civil servants removed for fraudulently passing recruitment exams underwent thorough verification procedures, with scores confirmed by multiple committees and a contracted university compa
At 9:40 a.m. on August 19, 2025, at Government House, Nirat Pongsitthathaworn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry and Acting Director-General of the Department of Local Administration, addressed concerns from local administrative organizations about the removal of civil servants who fraudulently passed local government recruitment exams. He expressed confidence that all procedures had been thorough and complete, from the Central Local Government Employee Examination Committee certifying correct scores through to the Central Civil Service and Local Government Personnel Committee's approval.
When asked where all the scores came from, Nirat explained that scores had already been verified by a company contracted with Srinakharinwirot University. The correct scores had never actually been used until the Central Investigation Bureau and the National Anti-Corruption Commission discovered the same record, which then became the basis for the verified scores. Nirat noted that when the matter arose, the Central Investigation Bureau used the same record, which the Department of Local Administration then cross-checked manually and electronically over 10 days, completing four rounds of verification with the same record.
The correct scores would be sent as classified documents from the Central Committee to provincial committees in all provinces. In each province, there are three committees—for subdistrict, municipal, and provincial administrative organizations—scheduled to meet between August 18 and 28. Committee members will see the document score sheets only in closed meetings because they are classified and cannot be posted on social media or disclosed publicly to protect personal information.
Regarding removals from office, Nirat said these would take effect on August 31. He pointed to the example of Lamphun Province, where provincial administrator Weeradet Phuppisit initially expressed concern about not having seen the documents but felt assured after the August 18 meeting. Nirat remarked that what had seemed like a hot issue to local administrators had cooled considerably thanks to careful scrutiny.
