The Supreme Court ordered Juthamat Sarum to be removed from her position as mayor of Mueang Faek Subdistrict in Buriram Province for submitting a false asset declaration, revoking her right to run for election for life due to this offense.
On 12 June 2026, reporters reported that on 9 June, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders read the verdict in case number Amorn 12/2565 between the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as petitioner and Mrs. Juthamat Sarum, mayor of Mueang Faek Subdistrict, Lam Plai Mat District, Buriram Province, and sister-in-law of Mr. Sophon Sarum, Speaker of the House of Representatives. She was accused of submitting a false asset and liability declaration by failing to report a Government Savings Bank deposit of 847,654.71 baht and Government Savings Bonds valued at 2 million baht, intentionally concealing her assets.
Considering the evidence from the Supreme Court’s investigation division for political office holders, along with the petitioner’s investigation files and the accused’s closing statement, the facts show that after reviewing the details and testimonies, the accused claimed the bank accounts in question belonged to her brother, Mr. Theerawat Sarum, who is legally incapacitated and under her and her sister Chatthayan’s care. However, examination of the bank statements compared with Mr. Theerawat’s income as a retired soldier receiving a pension and monthly assistance from the Veterans Welfare Organization showed discrepancies. The deposit and withdrawal transactions in his bank accounts did not correspond with the Government Savings Bonds or savings deposit accounts, and the accused herself conducted transactions on both accounts.
Furthermore, the account balances in both accounts, when compared to other deposit accounts declared in the asset and liability statements, were substantial. The evidence presented by the accused lacked sufficient weight to prove that the funds in the special Government Savings Bonds account originated from Mr. Theerawat’s Thanachart Bank account number 4262067350. Therefore, the Government Savings Bank Thawikit Branch savings account under the names of Mrs. Juthamat Sarum or Mrs. Chatthayan Suwansritawi, account number 20327743181, containing 847,654.71 baht, and the special Government Savings Bonds account number 400039557709 under Mrs. Juthamat Sarum’s name valued at 2 million baht, which originated from Government Savings Bonds account number 400025509011, could not be accepted as belonging to Mr. Theerawat as claimed by the accused. Since the accused’s name appears on both bank accounts, it must be accepted that the money in both accounts belongs to the accused as stated in the petition.
It is thus accepted that the accused intentionally submitted an asset and liability declaration and supporting documents to the petitioner containing false information or concealed facts that should have been disclosed. There is credible evidence that she intended not to reveal the source of assets and liabilities. Consequently, the accused must be removed from her position as mayor of Mueang Faek Subdistrict, effective from the date she ceased duties (29 July 2025), and her right to run for election is permanently revoked. The court ruled that Mrs. Juthamat Sarum intentionally submitted a false asset and liability declaration and documents to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, concealing facts that should have been disclosed, with the intent not to reveal the source of assets and liabilities. She is removed from her position as mayor of Mueang Faek Subdistrict, Lam Plai Mat District, Buriram Province, term 1, under the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption B.E. 2561 (2018) Section 114, paragraph 2 (1), effective from 27 May 2026, the date of the court verdict. Her right to run for election is permanently revoked under Section 81, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the same act. All other requests are dismissed.