Bangkok: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has announced significant progress in its investigation into the corruption surrounding the 2025 local government exams, revealing connections to the 2021 Pattaya exam corruption scandal. The NACC is set to investigate a former Director-General of the Department of Local Administration (DLA) and is collaborating with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to uncover the financial trails involved. The commission has assured that there will be no cover-ups, with a commitment to prosecute anyone found implicated. A six-month timeframe has been set to finalize the charges and submit them for a decisive conclusion at NACC headquarters. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Kiattisak Phutphan, Deputy Secretary-General of the NACC, disclosed that the investigation was initiated following complaints about corruption in the 2025 civil servant competitive examination. Two critical issues were identified: the first being the manipulation of specifications in the ele ctronic bidding process and the second involving impersonation and bribery in recruitment exams for local government positions. The NACC is currently collaborating with AMLO and banks to scrutinize the financial transactions of those implicated, ensuring a comprehensive investigation of the entire system. Investigators have been dispatched to various regions to ascertain the facts and identify the involved parties, victims, and perpetrators among the over 6,000 individuals scrutinized. Mr. Kiattisak highlighted that digital evidence, including data from seized computers, has been instrumental in linking the current investigation to the 2021 recruitment of municipal and provincial administrative officials, including Pattaya City employees. The NACC has resolved to treat the 2021 case as a special investigation due to evidence suggesting a systematic operation over several years. The ongoing investigation categorizes the involved parties into four groups: policymakers, senior executives and officials, evalua tion committee members, and individuals soliciting bribes. While the House of Representatives' Committee on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption (P.P.C. Committee) has yet to receive official information on a reported money trail exceeding 9 billion baht, they affirm that the investigation will proceed without bias, aiming to uncover any high-ranking political involvement. In response to potential ministerial implications, Mr. Kiattisak confirmed that evidence gathering is underway, focusing on financial trails and witness statements. The NACC is also prioritizing the protection of witnesses, ensuring their safety as they provide crucial information leading to the prosecution of major offenders. The NACC's investigation into the extended corruption case, dating back to 2021, has identified 10 individuals, including the former Director-General of the DLA. Current evidence allows prosecution up to the Director-General level, with ongoing efforts to trace financial connections and identify masterminds behi nd the corruption network. The outcome will depend on the accumulating evidence, with a commitment to pursue every lead.
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