State Audit Office Denies Thai PBS Probe Is Retaliation Over Collapse
The State Audit Office says its probe into Thai PBS's finances is unrelated to the broadcaster's coverage of a past building collapse, noting the investigation began before the news aired. It denied ever suing to silence journalists and said both sides have reached an understanding after exchanging clarifications. Any future legal action would target only those spreading false information that harms the SAO, not media outlets generally.
During a press conference on 14 October 2025, the State Audit Office (SAO) addressed questions about whether its financial inspection of Thai PBS was linked to dissatisfaction over the broadcaster's report on the SAO office building collapse that occurred on 28 March 2022. SAO spokesperson Sutthiphong Bunniwit clarified that the inspection committee was formed on 26 January 2025 after an internal complaint, with formal work beginning on 5 February, well before Thai PBS aired its building‑collapse scoop on 24 February 2025. He said the investigation followed standard procedures, involved interviews with SAO staff and contractors, and has resulted in criminal cases now before the courts, with the National Anti‑Corruption Commission also gathering evidence. Sutthiphong acknowledged that SAO monitors media coverage and found some inaccuracies in the building‑collapse reports, prompting a clarification on 20 March and a letter to Thai PBS around 27 March requesting a review of the presented information. Thai PBS responded on 1 April, confirming its reporting did not violate professional ethics and offering SAO further opportunity to clarify. He emphasized that SAO has never filed lawsuits to silence media, and any legal action would be limited to those who spread false information causing harm, not as a daily media rebuttal.
