Chaiwat, former Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, has filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) requesting an investigation into Poomtham and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior over an allegedly unlawful transfer after the Civil Service Commission indicated it violated moral governance.
On 23 May 2026 GMT+7, reports stated that on 22 May 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Chaiwat Juntirapong, former Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, submitted a petition to the NACC requesting a factual investigation into his transfer from Director-General to Inspector General of the Ministry of Interior shortly before his retirement.
The complaint accuses Mr. Poomtham Vejchayachai, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Mr. Atsit Sampantharat, then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, of involvement in proposing and executing the complainant’s transfer unlawfully, violating moral governance principles, and possibly committing misconduct under the Penal Code Sections 157 and 83, as well as anti-corruption laws.
The complainant stated that the transfer occurred shortly after policy directives were given, without specific reasons indicating any shortcomings in his duties, with no performance evaluation, no opportunity to respond, and no facts demonstrating that the transfer was truly necessary for the government.
A key issue in the complaint is that the transfer to Inspector General was not a normal reassignment but a reduction in role, authority, responsibility, and career opportunity, especially as the complainant was nearing retirement, making return to his prior position impossible and harming his reputation, honor, and post-retirement prospects.
The complaint also cited the Civil Service Commission’s majority ruling that the transfer was an unlawful exercise of discretion and violated moral governance. The complainant thus requested the NACC to formally investigate, review related documents and witnesses, and determine if any individuals were instigators, users, or supporters of the act.
The complainant emphasized that he did not seek a premature judgment of guilt by the NACC but requested a thorough, fair, and verifiable investigation to protect the rule of law, moral governance in civil service, and fairness toward officials affected by the use of power by political and administrative authorities. This case raises a fundamental question about moral governance in Thai civil service regarding the necessity of justifiable, transparent transfers that do not harm rights, honor, or fairness.
Following the Civil Service Commission’s ruling that the transfer was unlawful, the affected party has the right to request the NACC to further examine whether the action was merely an improper administrative order or rises to the level of official misconduct under criminal law.