Democrat Party Urges NACC to Protect Local Exam Fraud Witnesses

Thairath•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The Democrat Party submitted a letter to the NACC requesting witness protection for those involved in local government recruitment exam fraud to uncover high-level political masterminds.

•On August 24, 2026, the Democrat Party requested the NACC use Sections 131 and 135 to protect witnesses in local exam fraud cases.
•Estimated damages from the fraud reach over 3,000 million baht, affecting 5,900-6,000 people.
•The fraud network reportedly involves four levels, ranging from payers and brokers to high-ranking officials and politicians.
•The Democrat Party believes the network extends to government administrators and ministers in the South and Northeast.

Overview

•On August 24, 2026, a Democrat Party working group led by Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, Phaisan Ruangrit, and Pornchai Maranet submitted a letter to the NACC.
•The Democrat Party requested the NACC to implement measures to keep victims and deceived persons as witnesses using Sections 131 and 135 of the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption.
•Phaisan Ruangrit estimated damages exceeding 3,000 million baht based on 5,900-6,000 involved persons with an average payment of 600,000 baht each.
•The fraud has severely damaged local administrative organizations, including TAOs, PAOs, and municipalities, and led some victims to commit suicide.
•Pornchai Maranet stated that the process involves claiming quotas from executives, directors-general, and politicians, forcing new civil servants into a cycle of corruption.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang noted the corruption is not limited to the Department of Local Administration or the Ministry of Interior, but has existed in various state enterprises for over 5 years.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang indicated evidence suggests involvement of government-level executives and ministers, specifically in the Southern and Northeastern regions.

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Key Quotes

Phaisan Ruangrit

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

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

Pornchai Maranet

"These civil servants will have their lives locked by this process for their entire lives; they must be corrupt because they were corrupt from the first day."

ข้าราชการเหล่านี้จะถูกกระบวนการนี้ล็อกชีวิตไว้เลยทั้งชีวิต เขาจะต้องทุจริต เพราะชีวิตแรกที่เขาเข้ามารับราชการนั้นเขาทุจริต

Key Entities

Organization

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)

A political party that requested the NACC to protect witnesses in a local government exam fraud case.

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)

The National Anti-Corruption Commission which the Democrat Party urged to use legal mechanisms for witness protection.

Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO)(องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบล)

A local administrative body impacted by the exam fraud.

Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO)(องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัด)

A local administrative body impacted by the exam fraud.

Municipality(เทศบาล)ℹ️

A local administrative body impacted by the exam fraud.

Department of Local Administration(กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น)

An organization where the fraud network was found to operate.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

A ministry where the fraud network was found to operate.

Person

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang(พงศกร ขวัญเมือง)

Spokesperson of the Democrat Party.

Phaisan Ruangrit(ไพศาล เรืองฤทธิ์)

Member of the Democrat Party's legal committee.

Pornchai Maranet(พรชัย มาระเนตร์)

Secretary of the Democrat Party's policy committee.

Law

Organic Act on Anti-Corruption(พระราชบัญญัติประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริต)

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

Place

South(ภาคใต้)ℹ️

A region where significant clues regarding the fraud network were found.

Northeast(ภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ)ℹ️

A region where significant clues regarding the fraud network were found.