Timeline reveals dismantling of local exam fraud network; three accomplices arrested amid score inconsistencies involving 5,814 candidates.
Today (15 Jul 2026), Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also Minister of Interior, alongside National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phanpetch and Central Investigation Bureau Commander Pol Maj Gen Phatthanasak Bupphasuwan, held a press conference at the Crime Suppression Division announcing the arrest of three key figures in the network.
The case began on 22 June 2026 when the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) cooperated with the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) to raid Three Muang Charoen Rung Roengkit, a private company involved in exam administration. During the raid, officers found about 10 individuals illegally altering digital copies of answer sheets to unlawfully enable certain candidates to pass.
The swift operation that day led to ongoing legal actions by relevant authorities. On 24 June 2026, the Ministry of Interior authorized Mr. Subin Saengsuriya to file a complaint to investigate and prosecute the offenders for violations of the Computer Crimes Act and Section 188 of the Penal Code (destruction of documents). On 26 June 2026, the Department of Local Administration, represented by Mr. Chai Hongjampa, filed a similar complaint to pursue the case to its fullest extent.
Following the complaints, National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phanpetch and the Central Investigation Bureau Commander personally oversaw and expedited evidence collection. The court subsequently approved arrest warrants for the three main suspects on four serious charges: gang involvement, criminal conspiracy, destruction of documents under Section 188, and violations of the Computer Crimes Act.
The Central Investigation Bureau's Crime Suppression Division launched a sweeping operation, raiding targets in four provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, and Nong Khai, successfully arresting all key suspects involved.
The operation successfully apprehended all top-level suspects as follows:
Police Sergeant Major Phichit, the first suspect, surrendered himself at the Crime Suppression Division on 13 July.
Mr. Win, a former audit committee member of the Civil Aviation Training Center and a key conspirator, fled across the border to Laos. Thai police deployed a surveillance team to monitor his hideout for three days before coordinating with Laotian diplomatic and police authorities to capture and extradite him for prosecution.
Ms. Sataporn, Mr. Win’s younger sister, was hiding in Bangkok. Investigators closely monitored her activities for eight days before arresting her.
Despite operational constraints, case complexity, and various pressures, the integrated efforts of the Royal Thai Police, Central Investigation Bureau, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, and the cooperation of the Laotian embassy enabled authorities to complete the arrests of the main conspirators within just 17 days.
The Prime Minister and the Royal Thai Police affirmed their commitment to mobilize all resources to expand investigations, pursue, and prosecute all involved in this corruption network decisively and thoroughly, safeguarding the sanctity, transparency, and fairness of Thailand’s civil service examination system going forward.
Authorities reviewed irregularities among 14,988 candidates who reported for the exam out of 15,520 who passed. Comparing scores recorded on answer sheets with announced results revealed 5,814 candidates with mismatched scores, divided into three main groups: 3,621 failing scores, 1,713 with artificially increased passing scores, and 480 with a one-point discrepancy.