Lawmaker Clarifies: No Evidence Official Involved in Exam Fraud
A Thai lawmaker clarified that high-ranking officials have no involvement in an exam fraud case, blaming miscommunication for his earlier comments linking them to the investigation into a municipal secretary's arrest in Nakhon Ratchasima.
On August 22, Atsawin Sanuntripath, a Bhumjaithai MP representing Sri Saket and chairman of the House Anti-Corruption Committee, addressed comments he had made linking high-ranking officials to a local government exam fraud case. He acknowledged that he may have misspoken, misheard questions, and been unclear due to loud background noise at the time of his earlier interview.
Atsawin firmly stated that Director-General Narucha Khosachaiwilai has no involvement in the corruption case and is the official who authorized appointment of the new terms of reference committee overseeing the investigation into a municipal secretary's arrest in Nakhon Ratchasima. He confirmed that the committee head will be invited to provide details at the House Anti-Corruption Committee meeting on Thursday, August 27.
According to Atsawin, the committee's working team has completed its 30-day investigation, reaching the level of director-generals and local officials. He explained that the original 2564 exam had been compromised by fraud, prompting Burapha University—the original successful bidder—to withdraw when new terms of reference were required. When the university could not meet the revised conditions, including nationwide administration of the exam, the hiring agency held a new bidding process. Burapha University did not participate in the rebidding.
Atsawin noted that during a study visit to the Department of Special Investigation, officials confirmed that brokerage networks operating across provinces had been thoroughly questioned, but this corruption scheme is not new and operates consistently regardless of which university conducts the exam, as the brokers maintain connections throughout.
He emphasized that current evidence points only to local-level politicians and has not yet reached national-level officials, adding that the working committee has invited Burapha University to provide information but the university has not cooperated with the fact-finding inquiry.
