Sutthipong, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Interior, expressed shame over the local exam fraud scandal, calling it a disgrace to his old department. He questioned whether the wrongdoers have been fully punished and urged senior Ministry of Interior officials not to fear illegitimate power or engage in tasks beyond their duties. Tags: [Local exam fraud, Ministry of Interior, public administration, corruption, accountability]
At 07:38 on 13 Oct 2026 GMT+7 at the King Rama IX Monument plaza, Sutthipong Juljarern, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Interior, spoke about problems within the ministry, especially the local exam fraud. He said that during his time as secretary-general, exams and complaints were held and investigated. He feels ashamed when people know he is a retired official of the Ministry of Interior, but since the issue has occurred, everyone must work together to resolve it. As a citizen, he is concerned whether the punishment of offenders has been carried out fully, noting news reports suggest involvement beyond the level of a director-general. Tags: [Sutthipong Juljarern, Ministry of Interior, local exam fraud, investigation, public concern]
When asked if complaints arose during his tenure, Sutthipong admitted there were some but he never encountered major incidents and insisted he acted straightforwardly. He said every exam everywhere always faces complaints, but widespread and deep-rooted fraud like the recent local exams has likely never happened in Thai history, involving nearly 10,000 fraudulent candidates—a very large number. Despite the widespread nature, many were caught red-handed. He expressed a solemn plea to the spirits of past great kings and the deity Phra Siam Thevathirat to protect and safeguard the nation. Tags: [exam complaints, historical fraud, Sutthipong Juljarern, national protection, integrity]
When asked if he had a message for the Ministry of Interior’s executives, Sutthipong emphasized the need to do good and not fear illegitimate power. He reminded them to always remember they are civil servants serving under His Majesty the King and paid by taxpayers. Their duty is to perform well and avoid doing tasks beyond their responsibilities. He declined to comment on political matters, saying he had no message to give on that. Tags: [Ministry leadership, civil service ethics, duty, integrity, politics]