Democrat Party seeks witness protection for local exam fraud case

Matichon•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The Democrat Party requested the National Anti-Corruption Commission to provide witness protection for individuals involved in local government recruitment fraud.

•On August 24, the Democrat Party submitted a letter to the NACC regarding local government exam fraud.
•The party seeks witness immunity for those deceived or involved in the fraud to identify high-level masterminds.
•Estimated damages are between 3,000 million baht, based on 5,900 to 6,000 involved persons paying an average of 600,000 baht each.
•Evidence allegedly links the fraud to government-level administrators and ministers.

Overview

•On August 24, Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, Paisal Ruangrit, and Pornchai Maranet of the Democrat Party submitted a request to the NACC.
•The Democrat Party requested the NACC to implement witness protection measures for those deceived or involved in local government exam fraud.
•Paisal Ruangrit stated that the fraud affects the overall national system and has led some victims to commit suicide.
•Paisal Ruangrit estimated the financial damage at over 3,000 million baht, involving approximately 5,900 to 6,000 people.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang identified a four-step fraud structure involving payers, brokers, exam modifiers, and high-ranking officials or politicians.
•Pornchai Maranet warned that officials entering service via fraud are forced to become part of a corruption cycle throughout their careers.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang noted that clues from the South and Northeast suggest involvement of government-level administrators and ministers.
•Paisal Ruangrit urged affected individuals to provide information via the 'Lawyer Paisal Help' Facebook page.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Paisal Ruangrit

"If the NACC uses Sections 131 and 135 to grant witness immunity, they will tell everything, and it will not be just small fry at the end of the line."

ถ้า ป.ป.ช. ใช้มาตรา 131 และ 135 กันไว้เป็นพยาน เขาจะพูดหมด และถ้าพูดหมด มันจะไม่ใช่แค่ปลาซิวปลาสร้อยปลายแถว

Key Entities

Organization

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)

A political party that petitioned the NACC for witness protection in a local government exam fraud case.

National Anti-Corruption Commission(สำนักงานป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชาติ)

The agency receiving the petition to provide witness protection in the exam fraud case, also referred to as NACC.

Department of Local Administration(กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น)

An organization where the fraud process was found to have occurred.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

A ministry associated with the local government exam fraud process.

Person

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang(พงศกร ขวัญเมือง)

Spokesperson of the Democrat Party.

Paisal Ruangrit(ไพศาล เรืองฤทธิ์)

Member of the Democrat Party Law Committee.

Pornchai Maranet(พรชัย มาระเนตร์)

Secretary of the Democrat Party Policy Committee.

Kiattisak Puttapan(เกียรติศักดิ์ พุฒพันธุ์)

Deputy Secretary-General of the NACC who received the petition letter.

Law

Organic Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption 2018(พระราชบัญญัติประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริต 2561)

The law containing Sections 131 and 135 used for witness protection and immunity.