Deputy ‘Turtle’ revealed the money trail linking the Phuket Chief Officer in two bribery cases: demanding 300,000 baht to assist with local government exams and extorting 1 million baht from a hotel owner to resolve a land issue. Meanwhile, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration emphasized the matter is unrelated to politics.
On 30 June, at the press conference room on the 2nd floor of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Pol Maj Gen Jarungkiet Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the CIB, along with Pol Col Supot Phumyaem, Acting Chief of Police, Division 5, Technology Crime Suppression Division, Pol Col Thanapong Thapkhlam, Chief of Police, Division 6, Anti-Corruption Division, Mr. Poomvisan Kasemsuk, Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr. Angsukit Wisutwattanasak, Director of the Justice Facilitation Division at the Department of Special Investigation, and Mr. Wiruf Sitthiwong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, jointly announced the arrest results. Mr. Rungrueng, the Phuket Chief Officer, is the suspect named in the warrant issued by the Regional Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct, Region 9, charged with soliciting property or benefits as a bribe to induce officials by corrupt or illegal means, and acting as an intermediary or receiver of bribes. He is accused of being the intermediary in demanding money from three volunteers, 300,000 baht each, in exchange for helping with local government employment exams.
Mr. Angsukit Wisutwattanasak, Director of the Justice Facilitation Division at the Department of Special Investigation, disclosed that a hotel owner filed a complaint through the Phuket Provincial Damrongtham Center, stating that the Phuket Chief Officer demanded 1 million baht in exchange for assistance in amending the land ownership document (Sor Kor 1) concerning a plot in Phuket. A third party claiming to be a provincial official arranged a meeting with the former Chief Officer, who was a committee member involved in resolving state land issues. During the meeting, the suspect claimed he could help and demanded 1 million baht in cash. When the complainant said he lacked cash, he asked for a bank transfer instead. The next day, the suspect provided an account number for the transfer, which the hotel owner made, but no action was taken afterward as agreed.
Pol Col Supot added that financial investigations revealed the same account was involved in the other case concerning volunteers of the Territorial Defense Volunteers, where Mr. Rungrueng solicited money to help with local government recruitment exams. This linked the two cases, showing multiple back-and-forth transfers ultimately connecting to the suspect. Consequently, on Friday, 26 June, Mr. Rungrueng was arrested under Section 143 of the Criminal Code for extortion and Section 175 of the Anti-Corruption Act for acting as an intermediary in bribery. Additional charges related to the hotel owner's case were filed under Sections 149 and 157 of the Criminal Code for a government official soliciting property and misconduct in office.
Regarding Mr. Rungrueng’s conduct leading to his arrest, although the financial trails did not directly link to him, they involved close associates, especially the Chief Officer’s secretary. When Mr. Rungrueng demanded 1 million baht from the hotel owner, the money was transferred to one of three accounts of the Territorial Defense Volunteers to return the solicited funds. Mr. Rungrueng then had that volunteer refund 100,000 baht by transferring it to the secretary’s account, who then withdrew the cash and gave it to the Chief Officer.
Pol Lt Col Siripong stated that this case is separate from the exam cheating scandal handled by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Although local government officials are involved in both cases, investigations proceed simultaneously, and any connections found will be addressed later.
Regarding earlier complaints filed by local government officials, Pol Maj Gen Jarungkiet said it falls under the jurisdiction of the Crime Suppression Division, assigned by the NACC to conduct the investigation. The main case file remains with the NACC, and he cannot interfere.
Concerning reports that the Phuket Chief Officer harassed a female Territorial Defense Volunteer officer leading to a complaint, Pol Maj Gen Jarungkiet said it is part of the information but details cannot be disclosed at this time.
When asked if the arrest shortly after the Chief Officer resumed his position had political implications, Mr. Wiruf clarified that the Department of Provincial Administration had previously ordered the Chief Officer and four related officials to assist at the department for 30 days to facilitate fact-finding. After the period, they were to return to their original posts. The investigation found sufficient grounds to set up a disciplinary committee and prepare an order for suspension pending further action. However, criminal proceedings were initiated first due to clearer evidence.
Pol Lt Col Siripong emphasized that the prosecution is not politically motivated but results from continuous investigation following a timeline. Multiple agencies, including the Central Investigation Bureau, National Anti-Corruption Commission, Department of Special Investigation, and Anti-Money Laundering Office, collaborated on the case. He reiterated that corruption investigations focus strictly on facts and evidence, without any political involvement in the region.