A local exam cheating ring was uncovered with evidence showing incorrect answers changed to correct ones. Testimonies from accomplices clearly implicate the main ringleader. The Department of Local Administration (DLA) has assigned representatives to file charges against the cheating gang for illegally leaking exam answer documents.
Following reports that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division dismantled a local government employee recruitment exam cheating ring, evidence showed payments of 700,000 to 800,000 baht for altering exam answers for general and highly competitive positions, as previously reported.
On 26 Jun 2026, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) reported that the case began with complaints from local government exam candidates—some relying on their own skills, others paying the cheating ring—hoping to be among 6,000 successful candidates out of over 400,000 applicants. Some failed and filed complaints with the Crime Suppression Division. Investigations revealed 9,000 people paid bribes ranging from 300,000 to 900,000 baht each, totaling over 4 billion baht in damages.
Authorities investigated and identified a residence in Nonthaburi Province operating as a company where several officials gathered to alter exam answers. They detained 10 suspects fitting the criminal profile. The suspects are currently being interrogated by NACC officers, and exam fraud documents are under review.
Interrogations and further investigation revealed multiple people involved, especially “Mr. P.,” the main ringleader who paid “Mr. S.,” one of the 10 suspects in custody, to manage coordination and receive exam documents from testing sites to the company before distributing them to other regions.
The cheating method involved copying the actual exam results, comparing them with the answer key, marking correct answers in red pen as a guide, then altering the answers in a computer program to achieve passing scores before rescanning the modified documents into the system.
One key suspect remains at large; this person collects score data from bribed candidates, copies it onto a Flash Drive, and delivers it to the company in Nonthaburi. The original exam documents are stored in a warehouse of the Department of Local Administration (DLA) for two years before destruction, per regulations. This system gap prevents retrospective audits beyond that period. High-level sources believe the scheme has operated for over two years, noting financial links dating back to 2024 (2567 BE).
Regarding legal proceedings, the Central Investigation Bureau will initially charge involved individuals with criminal conspiracy for colluding in local exam fraud. They will also act against those who leaked Ministry of Interior exam data, following the Ministry's complaint. Other offenses will be handled by the NACC, which may delegate authority to the CIB depending on its discretion.
Additionally, earlier that afternoon, the Department of Local Administration (DLA), custodian of original exam documents, sent legal representatives to file a complaint with investigators at Division 2 of the Crime Suppression Division to prosecute those involved in unlawfully revealing exam documents under Criminal Code Section 322, which prohibits opening sealed correspondence or documents belonging to others. Investigations and evidence reviews are ongoing.