The office was silent and deserted, with no sign of Manat Suwanrin, Deputy Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima and former inspector of the Department of Local Administration, after being linked to a local exam fraud case. His mobile phone was switched off. Staff outside the office reported that he had no official duties throughout the day and had taken leave for personal errands.
Updates on the 2025 local government recruitment exam fraud case reveal that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) unanimously resolved to accept the case as a special investigation. More than 6,014 individuals are accused, including 22 government officials, 33 middlemen and answer correctors, and numerous candidates alleged to have had their exam papers altered to pass.
On 9 July 2026, reporters attempted to contact Manat Suwanrin, Deputy Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, for an interview and to verify facts regarding the ongoing news, but were unable to reach him as his mobile phone was switched off.
Reporters then went to the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial hall to inquire at the Deputy Governor’s office on the second floor, where only one staff member was present. The atmosphere inside was quiet, with no official work being carried out by Manat.
The staff revealed that Manat had no official duties scheduled for the entire day and had taken leave for personal business. They did not know where he had gone and could not provide further details.
Reporters will continue to monitor developments and progress in the case, as well as obtain explanations from those involved. Any new information will be reported to the public promptly.
Reports indicate that on the morning of 8 July 2026, NACC officers coordinated with Crime Suppression Division police to execute a search warrant on a condominium unit in the Rama 8 area of Bangkok, belonging to Manat Suwanrin, Deputy Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima. Manat is a former inspector of the Department of Local Administration and was responsible for drafting the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the local civil service exam under investigation. The search aimed to find additional evidence related to the local civil service exam fraud.
During the search, a safe was found in the unit but no other evidence related to the case. NACC officers then contacted Manat by phone, requesting he come to open the safe to demonstrate his transparency. Manat complied, revealing 200,000 baht in cash inside. He explained the source of the money satisfactorily, so the officers did not seize the funds. Afterward, NACC officers and Crime Suppression Division police withdrew from the location.