The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has resolved to charge Chomroen Thipyapongthada, former governor of Phuket, with illicit enrichment. They have proposed that the prosecutor file a court case to seize assets worth 321 million baht and have recommended that his employing agency impose dismissal.
On 16 March 2026, Mr. Surapong Intrathaworn, Secretary-General of the NACC and spokesperson for the NACC Office, announced that the NACC had resolved to charge two major cases of illicit enrichment. The first case concerns Mr. Chomroen Thipyapongthada, who held the position of governor in Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang Nga, and Satun provinces and was a state official. He was found to have illicitly enriched himself by a total of 321,670,858.30 baht. The investigation revealed that while serving as governor of these provinces and as a state official, Mr. Chomroen had assets that increased abnormally and disproportionate to his income, and he could not prove or explain the origins of these assets. These assets were under his name, his spouse's, and his minor children's names, totaling 321,670,858.30 baht, as follows:
1. A bank deposit account in the name of Mr. Chomroen Thipyapongthada, consisting of one account with 1,488,514.80 baht.
2. Bank deposit accounts in the name of his spouse, totaling 13 accounts with a combined balance of 260,846,734.80 baht.
3. Land and buildings registered under his spouse's name, totaling 22 properties with a combined value of 47,445,608.70 baht.
4. Land and buildings registered in the name of his minor child, consisting of one property valued at 5,690,000 baht (including decoration and equipment).
5. Six vehicles registered under his spouse's name, with a total value of 6,200,000 baht.
After consideration, the NACC concluded that Mr. Chomroen Thipyapongthada had illicitly enriched himself, possessing an abnormally large amount of assets or assets that increased abnormally, or acquired assets without lawful justification linked to his official duties or authority. The total illicit wealth was 321,670,858.30 baht. The commission has forwarded the report, investigation files, documents, evidence, and opinions to the Attorney General to file a petition with the court that has jurisdiction to adjudicate the case, requesting the court to order the confiscation of the illicit assets for the state. They also requested that the decision and factual details be communicated accordingly.
Recommendation to Ministry of Interior for dismissal
In summary, the case has been referred to the relevant supervisors to impose dismissal penalties, treating the act as official corruption under the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption, B.E. 2561 (2018), Section 122, paragraphs one and three. If it is impossible to fully or partially recover the illicit assets ruled by the NACC as state property, the court is requested to enforce the execution against other assets of the accused within ten years, according to Section 125 of the same Organic Act.
