Revealing the background of the case where three victims filed complaints alleging wrongdoing. "Phuket Provincial Clerk" They claimed to have paid 300,000 baht each for assistance to pass the civil service exam, but ultimately failed the test.
On the evening of 26 June 2026, the Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Prevention Division (ACPD) executed an arrest warrant issued by the Regional 9 Anti-Corruption Court to apprehend Mr. Rungrueang Thimabut, the Phuket Provincial Clerk, at his residence in Phuket city. Officials presented the warrant and informed him of his rights before escorting him for further questioning at the Phuket Provincial Police meeting room immediately. Later, after overnight interrogation, authorities transferred the "Phuket Provincial Clerk" by van to Songkhla Province, the jurisdiction of the Regional 9 Anti-Corruption Court, as previously reported.
On 27 June 2026, it was reported that investigators from Division 6 of the ACPD accepted a criminal complaint alleging that a government official unlawfully solicited or accepted property or other benefits to perform or omit official duties, and acted corruptly under Criminal Code Sections 149 and 157.
There are three complainants, with the suspect being Mr. Rungrueang Thimabut, the Phuket Provincial Clerk. Investigation revealed that the victims had known Mr. Rungrueang since 2020 when he was district chief in Su-ngai Padi, Narathiwat Province. The victims had previously applied twice for local civil service exams without success.
In March 2025, the victims and two friends met Mr. Rungrueang at his residence in Songkhla Province to seek advice on passing the local civil service exam. Mr. Rungrueang claimed he could help them pass due to his connections with senior officials in the Department of Local Administration but demanded 300,000 baht each, totaling 900,000 baht.
After collecting the money over about a week, the complainants delivered 900,000 baht in cash inside a paper bag through an associate of Mr. Rungrueang at a residence in Cho Wa subdistrict, Su-ngai Padi district, Narathiwat Province. The victims had applied for the position of Revenue Collection Officer.
When the exam results were announced, none of the victims' names appeared. They contacted Mr. Rungrueang via the LINE app, who responded, “Noted, wait for the next exam,” and promised to refund the money, even saying a transfer would be made to their accounts.
The victims also alleged that Mr. Rungrueang had solicited money similarly from others, raising concerns that any refunded money might come from other victims. Seeing his claim to guarantee exam success as unlikely, they reported the case to the ACPD to pursue legal action.
After investigators found sufficient evidence and believed the suspect had committed the offense and might interfere with evidence, they obtained a warrant from the Central Anti-Corruption Court and arrested Mr. Rungrueang in Phuket, proceeding with legal action accordingly.