ACT has unveiled a “Hall of Shame” list for the first half of 2026, documenting 13 major scandals that have shaken the country and revealing four fundamental weaknesses in Thailand’s rule of law.
The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand, or ACT, has compiled data on "scandalous cases" that have attracted widespread attention, reflecting corruption issues during the first half of 2026. At least 13 cases have been deemed worthy of record as a "corruption blacklist." These reveal four weak points in Thailand’s core rule of law system: freedom from corruption, law enforcement, criminal justice process, and checks and balances on government power.
Dr. Mana Nimitmongkol, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand, disclosed that in just the first six months of 2026, multiple major corruption scandals have emerged, warranting inclusion in the “Corruption Hall of Shame” to expose fraud, condemn offenders, and raise public awareness about the severity of corruption problems. As of 22 Jul 2026 GMT+7, at least 13 major scandals have been documented, including:
1. Cheating in local government civil service exams involving bribes worth over 4.5 billion baht. Tens of thousands are implicated; the NACC has charged more than 6,014 individuals, yet no ministers or national politicians have been charged. There are concerns that without fundamental reform, preventing recurrence will be difficult.
2. The Anti-Corruption Center revealed survey results identifying 10 government agencies with the authority to approve bribe requests from private businesses. The Center spoke out hoping involved parties would accept the truth and seek joint solutions.
3. Hoarding of 57 million liters of oil valued at over 2.3 billion baht. Clear evidence of stockpiling exists, but no perpetrators have been identified. 4. TH-AI Passport project,
a 1.6 billion baht scandal considered “policy-level corruption.” Though claimed to be procured properly and by the book, tech experts widely criticized it as not cost-effective. 5. Crane collapse at the Rama II expressway construction site,
which killed two people and injured two others. It highlighted the unsafe conditions for citizens due to government officials neglecting contractor oversight, leading to recurring accidents. 6. The director-general of the Royal Rainmaking Department resigned
to preserve his dignity after refusing a 300 million baht annual aircraft maintenance project request from a minister's nephew. This case reflects the independence of civil servants in their duties and issues of governance and corruption in procurement linked to patronage systems. 7. A gold bribe weighing 246 baht,
valued at over 16 million baht, involving NACC commissioners and a high-ranking police official known as "Big Joke," supported by witness testimony and video evidence showing the use of the NACC commissioners’ official vehicle to receive the bribe. This has led to public loss of trust. 8. The NACC decided to dismiss a case against Mr. Saksayam,
who held shares in a company contracting with government agencies, contradicting a Constitutional Court ruling that his ministership had ended. 9. The Phuket mafia,
which wields strong influence and connections on the island, able to remove governors, deputy governors, or senior officials who oppose their interests. 10. The "MP 888" case,
where a parliamentarian holds a significant position despite being linked to online gambling and money laundering cases. The Department of Special Investigation once raided his home, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office froze assets, violating political ethics standards. 11. False birth registrations by foreigners using Thai surrogate fathers,
a method to obtain Thai nationality. This nationality trade is easier and cheaper than other methods and involves exploiting the greed of officials in the Ministry of Interior. 12. The attempted assassination of a Narathiwat MP,
where the gunman used government-issued weapons and vehicles. Several state officials are implicated. 13. Five immigration police officers staged a scene to help 131 Chinese call center suspects escape detention,
charging a bribe of 10 million baht per person to get them out of the Immigration Office detention rooms. "Corruption today no longer necessarily means secretly taking bribes or always breaking the law. They are no longer that afraid because they use laws and state policies as tools to legitimize their misconduct. What is even more disturbing is that politically backed corruption cases always cause widespread damage," said the ACT chairman.
Besides these 13 scandals, two cases remain heavily criticized by Thai society and may end abruptly: the Senate rigging case, which undermines democracy, and the Khao Kradong land grab case.
"In these two cases, many state officials have invoked laws and agency powers to obstruct justice processes to protect political interests," he added.
Four dimensions of Thailand's weaknesses
(1) Absence of Corruption,
illustrated by cases like local exam cheating, TH-AI Passport, and gold bribes. Policy recommendations include disclosing procurement information and revealing true beneficiaries. (2) Regulatory Enforcement,
highlighted by the crane collapse and oil hoarding cases. Proposed policies call for improving oversight efficiency and law enforcement. (3) Criminal Justice,
seen in the gold bribe case, MP 888 case, and immigration police helping Chinese suspects. Policy suggestions focus on enhancing transparency and independence of the justice process. (4) Constraints on Government Powers,
evident in the Saksayam case and bribery survey. Recommendations include strengthening oversight mechanisms and accountability of government agencies. "Thailand’s challenges are not limited to individual corruption cases but relate to state effectiveness, governance, and the credibility of the justice system," Dr. Mana said.
The 2026 Corruption Hall of Shame compiled by ACT serves as digital evidence, not just a collection of scandals, but a reflection of Thailand's weaknesses in rule of law systems. Sustainable reform should not focus solely on punishing offenders case by case but must build preventive, oversight, and enforcement mechanisms that are efficient, transparent, and trusted by society to create a corruption-free future.
