The court sentenced the former mayor of Yan Ta Khao to 6 years and 18 months in prison without suspension for using an official vehicle as his personal car and claiming nearly one million baht in fuel expenses. He is currently appealing the case to continue fighting it.
At 10:00 a.m. on 25 June 2026, at the Phraya Ratsada meeting room on the 5th floor of Trang Provincial Hall, Mr. Bundit Kanasuwan, Director of the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in Trang Province, informed the second 2026 meeting of the committee promoting implementation under the national strategy on anti-corruption and misconduct in Trang Province that the NACC had resolved to indict the former mayor of Yan Ta Khao Subdistrict, Trang Province.
The case involved regularly using a municipal vehicle for personal purposes and claiming fuel expenses from the municipal budget. The NACC found sufficient grounds for both criminal and serious disciplinary offenses and forwarded the case to the Attorney General for prosecution. The Anti-Corruption Court Region 9 issued verdicts in case number AT 64/2568, red case number 76/2568, ruling that the defendant, as mayor of Yan Ta Khao Subdistrict, had authority over the use of the municipal vehicle, storing it outside official premises, and approving fuel payments from the municipal budget.
The court considered the facts and found that the defendant regularly used a white Toyota Fortuner municipal vehicle to commute daily between his residence and the municipal office. He also parked it at the Yan Ta Khao Association opposite his home, despite the municipality having an official parking area. Additionally, he used the vehicle for social events, traditional ceremonies, and various personal activities as if it were a private car.
These actions constituted using government property for personal benefit. The defendant approved and claimed fuel expenses from the municipal budget each time the vehicle was used, causing financial damage to Yan Ta Khao Subdistrict Municipality as follows: 47,361 baht during 2011-2012; 928,588.30 baht during 2012-2021; and 1,000 baht during 2021-2023, totaling 976,949.30 baht.
The court found that these acts constituted corrupt performance of duties and abuse of power, violating the Ministry of Interior's 2005 regulations on the use and maintenance of vehicles by local administrative organizations, specifically Articles 12, 14, and 19. This amounted to seeking unlawful personal gain and caused damage to the state and Yan Ta Khao Municipality.
The court ruled the defendant guilty under Criminal Code Section 151, which carries a severe penalty of 5 years imprisonment per count. However, due to the defendant’s confession benefiting the trial, the sentence was halved to 2 years and 6 months per count, totaling 6 years and 18 months imprisonment for three counts. After considering the case circumstances and investigation report, the court found no grounds for suspended sentence. The case is currently under appeal in the appellate court for further litigation.