Rome: "Rome" (a nickname for a high-ranking official) takes decisive action following the State Audit Commission's call to address corruption in local government exams. The focus is on exposing irregularities in the Terms of Reference (TOR) that facilitated the manipulation of exam questions and the distribution of unencrypted files on flash drives.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Rangsiman Rome, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party and Chairman of the House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights, has received a complaint from the Association for the Promotion of Citizen Oversight of the Exercise of State Power (APCM). The complaint requests an investigation into the issues surrounding local government entrance examinations scheduled from 2024 to 2026.
A representative from the National Anti-Corruption Commission noted that the issue has been ongoing since 2024 and has been closely monitored. The process was temporarily halted after objections were filed with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) due to allegations of bribery. In 2025, concerns emerged over the lack of transparency in the TOR, leading to objections from a bidder, Surin Rajabhat University. Following a change in government, Srinakharinwirot University was announced as the winner. This has prompted calls for an investigation into the TOR, which is suspected to have loopholes that could facilitate corruption.
Moreover, issues have arisen concerning the Act on Offenses Related to Bidding for Government Contracts, which, although not necessarily intentional, may involve negligence or errors causing damage to the government. Oversight responsibility lies with the Minister of Interior and the Director-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, who are responsible for signing the contract and announcing the winning bidder. Notably, the extension of the program modification deadline from 48 hours to 15 days has raised concerns over potential loopholes for modifications. The TOR specifies that files should be in JPG and PDF format and stored on an unencrypted flash drive, which was found during a police search in Bang Bua Thong, raising questions about accountability.
Mr. Rangsiman emphasized that the lack of encryption on flash drives or files raises concerns about the standards for conducting significant tests involving numerous individuals, including government personnel. He questioned who should be held accountable for such oversights, including high-ranking executives with oversight authority. The committee is set to consider when to include this matter on its agenda.
When queried about the culpability of those who paid to take the exam, Mr. Rangsiman remarked that while the media is well-informed of the situation, the legal determination of whether they can be granted witness protection remains. He stressed that the focus should be on targeting the higher-ups to dismantle the corruption system.