NACC Finds Thammasat Professors Guilty of 2.8M Baht Trip Corruption
The NACC has ruled that former Thammasat University associate professor Jit Mueankratok and project coordinator Witthaya committed corruption by illegally awarding a 2.8-million-baht contract for an overseas study trip to the Czech Republic to Infinite Journey Co. without proper approval. The university was later ordered by the Civil Court to pay the company, resulting in financial loss. Both face criminal charges under anti-corruption laws and severe disciplinary action.
On November 10, 2026, NACC Secretary-General Nitiphan Prajubmo, acting as the office spokesperson, announced that the commission had resolved to indict former associate professor Jit Mueankratok, who at the time served as a lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy and as director and responsible party for the Global Mini MBA Batch 91 executive development project, along with accomplices, in a corruption case concerning the procurement of an overseas study trip.
Investigation revealed that on January 19, 2017, Jit, in his capacity as project director, together with project coordinator Witthaya, met with representatives of Infinite Journey Co., Ltd. — Nichathorn, Radapak, and Thanat — to plan and set dates for the study trip to the Czech Republic. The company was asked to book flight tickets for the delegation in advance, before any formal procurement approval had been granted.
Later, on November 10, 2017, financial staff at the university's Center for Business Executive Consulting and Development informed Jit that electronic bidding could not be completed in time and the dean would not approve a selective tender because the 2,808,000 baht budget legally required e-bidding. They requested a postponement of the trip.
However, Jit insisted on proceeding as scheduled because Infinite Journey had already fully booked accommodations and flights. Subsequently, on November 27, 2017, Radapak emailed quotation files from two other companies to be used as comparative bids for a selective tender process.
Jit and Witthaya then jointly prepared selective tender documents to portray the procurement as compliant with regulations, awarding the contract to Infinite Journey at 2,805,200 baht. The dean never signed any appointment order or employment contract. The Civil Court later ordered Thammasat University to pay the contract amount plus interest and court fees to Infinite Journey, causing the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy to suffer a loss of 2,805,200 baht.
The NACC concluded that: 1. The actions of Jit and Witthaya constitute criminal offenses under the Organic Act on Counter Corruption (2018) Section 123/1 (formerly Section 11 of the 1999 Act and the 1952 Act on Offenses by State Officials).
