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Local Admin Offices Top Corruption Complaints; AI/Drones Proposed to Fight Graft

Local Admin Offices Top Corruption Complaints; AI/Drones Proposed to Fight Graft

Matichon•Politics•1h ago

Reader Briefing

Local administrative organizations are the most frequently complained-about entities to the NACC Regional 1, primarily for bid-rigging and splitting budgets under 500,000 Baht, prompting proposals for AI and drone usage.

  • •Local administrative organizations (LAOs) receive the highest number of complaints to the NACC Regional 1.
  • •Common corruption schemes include bid-rigging (locking specifications) and splitting budgets below 500,000 Baht.
  • •The State Audit Office is proposing the use of AI and drones to combat corruption and prevent budget leakage.
  • •A sector-specific breakdown of damages shows real estate at over 2.3 billion Baht, infrastructure at 700 million Baht, and subsidies at 497 million Baht.

Overview

  • •On May 21, 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Regional 1 organized a media relations project in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. This event was held in order to discuss public sector procurement monitoring.
  • •Wiwatch Jaroencham, Deputy Secretary-General of NACC Regional 1, stated that NACC Regional 1 has received 666 complaints, with LAOs being the most reported entities due to their large local personnel base.
  • •The total value of damages reported in corruption cases is divided into: Real Estate amounting to 2,305 million Baht, Infrastructure totaling 700 million Baht, Subsidies at 497 million Baht, and Equipment/Vehicles/Technology at 450 million Baht, resulting in significant financial losses.
  • •The most reported corruption schemes in procurement are: 1. Locking specifications, 2. Splitting purchases or contracts into amounts under 500,000 Baht, 3. Bid rigging, 4. Using nominees, and 5. False acceptance of work, due to loopholes and opportunities for illicit gain.
  • •Suthi Suntanurak, State Auditor Region 1, remarked that while some corruption methods remain, others have evolved, necessitating adaptive procurement innovations and real-time audits to prevent ongoing fraud.
  • •The State Audit Office proposes implementing AI and drones for corruption detection and oversight, in order to enhance the real-time auditing process and prevent budget leakage.
  • •Public officials and whistleblowers still exhibit fear of reprisal and influence, even with witness protection programs, resulting in a continued rise in corruption.
  • •The NACC and State Audit Office must collaborate effectively, leveraging clear databases and technological advancements like AI, in order to increase the efficiency of corruption prevention measures.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Wiwatch Jaroencham
"Statistics of complaints to NACC Regional 1 currently total 666 cases, mostly under Penal Code Section 157 for dereliction of duty. Procurement is the next most frequent, with local administrative organizations (LAOs) being the most complained-about entities."
สถิติเรื่องร้องเรียนมายัง ป.ป.ช. ภาค 1 ปัจจุบันมีทั้งหมด 666 เรื่อง ส่วนใหญ่เป็นการร้องเรียนตามกฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 157 เจ้าหน้าที่ละเว้นการปฎิบัติหน้าที่ รองลงมาคือการจัดซื้อจัดจ้าง ซึ่งหน่วยงานที่ถูกร้องเรียนมากที่สุดคือองค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น (อปท.)
Suthi Suntanurak
"While some corruption methods haven't changed and can be prevented, others have evolved significantly, changing procurement innovations. Currently, real-time audits can detect and halt issues immediately."
แม้รูปแบบการทุจริตบางเรื่องไม่ต่างจากเดิมสามารถป้องกันได้ แต่บางเรื่อง ก็เปลี่ยนไปมาก ทำให้นวัตกรรมการจัดซื้อจัดจ้างก็เปลี่ยนไปด้วย แต่ในปัจจุบันมีการตรวจสอบแบบ real time audit ตรวจสอบและสามารถระงับได้ทันที
Suthi Suntanurak
"We must leverage data and technology in investigations, such as using AI to detect procurement processes and identify individuals' connections or ties to political parties."
ต้องมีการนำข้อมูลและเทคโนโลยีมาช่วยในการตรวจสอบ เช่นการใช้ AI เข้ามาช่วยตรวจจับกระบวนการจัดซื้อจัดจ้าง ตรวจจับกลุ่มบุคคลว่ามีความเกี่ยวข้องกันหรือไม่หรือมีสายสัมพันธ์กับพรรคการเมืองหรือไม่

Key Entities

Organization

National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Regional 1(ป.ป.ช.ภาค 1)
The regional branch of the NACC that received the highest number of corruption complaints regarding local government.
Local Administrative Organizations (LAOs)(อปท.)
The type of government entities that received the most corruption complaints in Region 1 of the NACC.
State Audit Office(สตง.)
The office that proposed the use of AI and drones to combat corruption and prevent budget leakage.

Person

Suraphong Inthathavorn(นายสุรพงษ์ อินทรถาวร)
Secretary-General of the NACC who attended the media relations project.
Wiwatch Jaroencham(นายวิวัฒน์ เจริญฉ่ำ)
Deputy Secretary-General of NACC Regional 1 who presented statistics on corruption complaints and common schemes.
Suthi Suntanurak(นายสุทธิ สุนทรานุรักษ์)
State Auditor Region 1 who discussed corruption typologies and proposed technological solutions like AI and drones.
Kaewjai Kadhiam(นางแก้วใจ คดีธรรม)
Lopburi Provincial Treasurer who attended the NACC media relations project.

Place

Lopburi Inn Resort(โรงแรมลพบุรี อินน์ รีสอร์ท)
The location where the NACC Regional 1 organized its media relations project.
Mueang District, Lopburi Province(อ.เมือง จ.ลพบุรี)
The district and province where the NACC media relations project was held.

Law

Penal Code Section 157(กฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 157)
The legal provision frequently cited in complaints to the NACC Regional 1, pertaining to dereliction of duty by officials.