A 68-year-old man named Banjong from Dong Yai subdistrict in Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima, has won 54 million baht from a Lottery Plus draw held on August 16, 2026. He purchased nine tickets and won the grand prize, creating excitement among his family and relatives.

His 69-year-old sister, Amphorn, explained that Banjong is the sixth of nine siblings, with three having passed away. She noted that he currently works in Bangkok and has not yet returned home to Nakhon Ratchasima. When she learned of his lottery win, she felt genuinely happy, as her brother rarely purchases lottery tickets or gambles. However, he occasionally buys tickets when he dreams of their late father. The reason he bought nine tickets this time is still unclear, as they have not yet discussed it with him.

Amphorn revealed that Banjong is known for his charitable work. He regularly donates to temples for maintenance, assists with funeral costs, and supports social welfare. He previously worked for large international companies and is fluent in foreign languages. His wife is a homemaker, and their two adult children are successful: their eldest son is a renowned university professor and their daughter works for a corporation. Despite their wealth, the children remain employed and do not burden their parents, which the family considers a testament to Banjong's virtue.

Beyond his immediate family, Banjong helps underprivileged children by finding them employment opportunities and supporting their education. He also assists his neighbors in various ways. His sister believes that the merit he has accumulated through charitable actions has brought him this great fortune, with villagers saying, "His good karma has arrived."

On August 17, Deputy Interior Minister Worasidit Liangprasert addressed concerns that sending the names of 5,925 civil service and local government exam candidates found to have irregularities to local administrative organizations (PAO) for action amounted to shifting responsibility. He stated this is not burden-shifting but rather each agency performing its designated duties, with the central government responsible for determining data, standards, and clear guidelines. He stressed the importance of separating the investigation of irregularities from personnel status decisions, as each step falls under different agencies' authority, and local governments are not being asked to decide who is guilty or should be removed.

Worasidit explained that the process for the 5,925 cases begins with checking data during the examination process, not at the local level. Once irregularities are found, they enter a review process by relevant committees before guidelines are set and information is sent to responsible agencies. He argued that if the central government detected score problems but took no action, people would question why the Interior Ministry left ineligible candidates in the system. However, corrections must follow proper procedures and not be based on emotion or place blame on a single party.

He noted that action against those involved must proceed on multiple fronts simultaneously: correcting the candidate registry, handling those already appointed, and referring cases to authorities with criminal investigation powers—each a separate process. He clarified that being on the list of 5,925 does not automatically make someone guilty of corruption or a criminal offence; these are people found to have exam score irregularities who must undergo proper investigative procedures.

Worasidit emphasized that whether someone committed a crime or participated in fraud must be proven through investigation and the justice system. For those appointed based on flawed scores, if investigation shows they were ineligible from the start, their status must be corrected by law, as errors or fraud in exams cannot become permanent rights in the civil service. He stated his principle clearly: whoever obtained rights improperly must be corrected; whoever passed on their own merits and was uninvolved in fraud deserves justice; and officials following orders must have clear guidelines, so innocent people do not bear the consequences of others' wrongdoing.

The Central Investigation Bureau and the Revenue Department have dismantled a "ghost bill" network involved in selling fraudulent tax invoices, causing damage to the value-added tax system worth 360 million baht. Officers raided 10 locations across five provinces and arrested three suspects.

On August 17, 2569, at the Central Investigation Bureau headquarters, senior police and revenue officials announced the "Anti Ghost Bill" operation. According to Deputy Superintendent Krisna Makrutdin of the CIB's Division 2, the Revenue Department had received intelligence that a group of individuals and companies were selling tax invoices without any actual goods transactions. The operation identified a sales representative using the name "O Ratthasak" who recruited customers through an exclusive closed network and refused contact with outsiders.

Undercover officers successfully infiltrated the network and conducted multiple undercover purchases of invoices issued in the name of a company managed by director Pandecha. The scheme involved issuing false invoices for goods valued at 300-400 million baht annually, with payments transferred to accounts under Konpot's name. The network allegedly used Thailand Post channels and false names for delivery without actually providing goods. Additional invoices were distributed to other customers with profit margins transferred to Pandecha.

The company had a registered capital of 400 million baht and issued invoices to create credibility. The network caused tax damages of at least 360 million baht and undermined the nation's economic system.

On August 11, 2569, officers arrested three suspects: Ms. Ratthasak, 61, arrested at a condominium on Rama III Road in Bangkok; Mr. Konpot, 50, arrested at his residence in Nakhon Ratchasima; and Mr. Pandecha, 33, arrested at his residence in Nonthaburi.

Raids at 10 locations across five provinces—four in Bangkok, three in Nonthaburi, one each in Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Prakan, and Chaiyaphum—seized approximately 200 items including 105 tax invoice documents, 12 files of purchase-sale tax reports, 31 files of postal delivery documents, 17 files of employment contracts and transfer documents, and 18 bank account books.

On August 17, the atmosphere at Wat Pa Adulya Ram in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province, was noticeably quieter than in recent days, though devotees continued to visit the temple to make merit offerings and encourage Phra Kru Adulya Sarnit, the temple's abbot. This followed a visit from Professor Thong Chantharangsun, rector of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and chairman of the National Buddhist Protection Committee, along with officials from the Religious Affairs Office and related agencies, who consulted with the abbot about the temple's land dispute and efforts to transfer a 21-rai property title into the temple's name.

The abbot expressed relief and a brighter demeanor, saying the temple was pleased with the approach taken by the committee, which allowed him to remain at the temple rather than meeting the media outside. He noted that while the previous day's discussions covered legal matters, the temple's main concern was whether the dispute could finally be resolved. The temple has been the defendant throughout the legal process, never filing a counter-lawsuit, and despite court rulings and title transfers in the temple's favor, the situation had never fully concluded.

Lay disciple Lai Khunthong remarked that the temple's atmosphere had improved since the previous day's visit by many devotees and members of the public. He noted that police continue to patrol the grounds approximately every hour, providing reassurance to visitors and relatives. All devotees expressed happiness and optimism that the situation would be resolved favorably, with confidence that relevant authorities would acknowledge the temple's case once the matter is fully concluded.

On August 17, Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasak Chaovasanakul disclosed progress in the investigation into fraud in local government personnel recruitment examinations. After investigators found involvement by state officials, they issued summonses for those to acknowledge the charges, including Rueangdet Sirikij, director of the Education and Psychology Testing Center at Srinakharinwirot University, and Theerut Suphavibulyapol, former director-general of the Department of Local Administration, as well as others involved in altering test scores.

Natthasak said that last week, investigators compiled case documents and forwarded them to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for legal proceedings. The Anti-Corruption Commission has now appointed Anti-Corruption Division officers to serve on a special investigation panel and returned certain documents to police to pursue further inquiries into multiple issues. The investigation is proceeding rigorously. Regarding brokers and other connected individuals, police confirmed they will accelerate work on the evidence supplied by the Anti-Corruption Commission and compile their findings to submit for the commission's consideration. They requested time for teams and investigators to do further work, with significant developments expected between the end of this month and early next month.

As for candidates who passed the exam and were already appointed as civil servants, Natthasak said several groups are still under review pending official information from the Anti-Corruption Commission before taking further steps. Regarding whether the evidence will point to influential figures behind the scheme beyond state officials, he asked that the matter await consideration by the Anti-Corruption Commission's larger committee. However, he confirmed that police and the commission will continue to pursue the case without pause and will examine all those involved to prosecute according to facts and evidence thoroughly.