NACC Charges Ex-Physical Education Chief in 50.5M Procurement Fraud
Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission has found grounds to charge former Physical Education Department Director-General Sangchan Worasumit and others over a 50.5 million baht sports equipment procurement scheme. Investigators say specifications and prices were pre-set above market rates to limit competition, and no needs assessment was conducted before the 2013 purchase. The case has been referred to the Supreme Prosecutor's Office for criminal prosecution.
On November 10, 2026, Nithiphan Prachuabmo, Secretary-General of the NACC, announced that the commission had resolved to find grounds for criminal charges against Sangchan Worasumit, who served as Director-General of the Physical Education Department, and accomplices for corrupt procurement of sports equipment, outdoor exercise equipment, and recreational equipment totaling 50.5 million baht.
The investigation found that in fiscal year 2013, Sangchan approved a project to promote sports and recreation for public health development, procuring 33 items of sports equipment, outdoor exercise machines, and playground equipment worth 50.5 million baht. No needs survey was conducted for the recipient agencies. The project proposal was signed by a senior sports development specialist as project manager, submitted through the Director of the Sports Office, and approved by Sangchan. Project documents had been pre-prepared by the Sports Office Director.
All 33 equipment items — including types, specific characteristics, budget amounts, and reference prices — were pre-determined. The Terms of Reference (TOR) drafting committee and the reference price setting committee did not determine the items, specifications, or reference prices, nor did they survey market prices from sources or private entities as required. Instead, they adopted the pre-set details and reference prices from the Sports Office Director, inserting them into bidding documents merely to follow procurement procedures.
The NACC determined that the actions constitute criminal offenses under Sections 151 and 157 of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption B.E. 2542 (as amended), currently Section 172 of the B.E. 2561 Act, and Sections 11 and 12 of the Act on Offenses Relating to Submission of Bids to State Agencies B.E. 2542, as well as serious disciplinary offenses. The case has been referred to the Supreme Prosecutor's Office for criminal prosecution in courts with jurisdiction under Sections 91(1), (2) and 98 of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption B.E. 2561.
