The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior revealed that the Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat confirmed no Territorial Volunteer (Or Sor) recruitment exams have been held since 2024. He also ordered the Chawang district chief to urgently investigate the social media allegations of a 300,000 baht bribe demanded for exam entry.
On 1 May 2026, Mr. Assisit Sampantorat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, addressed news circulating on social media that stated, “Exposing a 300,000 baht bribe for the Or Sor exam in Mueang Khon – child fails, father appeals to the Damrongtham Center; 70,000 baht lost, claimed to have paid the official…” The Ministry of Interior has instructed the Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat to swiftly seek the facts and provide clear explanations to the public as this issue seriously damages the reputation of local administration and the Ministry of Interior.
The Permanent Secretary said that at 1 p.m. today, he received a report from Mr. Somchai Silanoy, Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, regarding this matter. On 30 April 2026, at about 2:30 p.m., the complainant came to the Nakhon Si Thammarat Damrongtham Center to file a complaint alleging that a member of the Territorial Volunteer force in Chawang district demanded a bribe of 300,000 baht but the complainant was never accepted as a Territorial Volunteer as claimed. The complainant had only received a refund of 230,000 baht and had persistently sought the remaining amount over four years, recently experiencing threats causing fear.
“The Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat has ordered responsible officials to expedite fact-finding to ensure fairness for all parties, providing protection for the complainant and related individuals. The Chawang district chief was directed to summon all Territorial Volunteer members of Chawang district to inquire about the incident. Initially, no volunteer members were found to have engaged in bribery as alleged on social media. Furthermore, in fact, from 2024 to the present, Nakhon Si Thammarat province has not held any open recruitment exams for general candidates to become Territorial Volunteers.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior added that this issue negatively affects the image of the local administration, the Territorial Defense Command, and the Ministry of Interior, and has attracted significant public attention. He therefore emphasized that the Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat must urgently investigate and conduct all legal procedures promptly, alongside clear communication to inform the public and society at large. The Ministry of Interior continues to closely monitor this matter.