Phuket Governor Reassigns Volunteer Defense Units Amid Online Complaints, Stresses Fair Probe

Phuket Governor Chotinrin Koedsom on September 20th, 2026, addressed public complaints circulating on social media regarding the conduct of Volunteer Defense Corps (Or Sor) members in the province, stating that authorities are taking the matter seriously and moving quickly to establish the facts. The governor announced that in response to these complaints, relevant Volunteer Defense Corps units would be temporarily reassigned. This measure, he explained, is to ensure that ongoing investigations are not affected. This action appears to be an attempt to ensure transparency and accountability in the activities of the Volunteer Defense Corps in Phuket. The governor emphasized that no misconduct will be tolerated and pledged that the investigation would be conducted fairly and thoroughly, signaling an effort to restore community trust. Volunteer Defense Corps members play crucial roles in Thai local communities, including maintaining public order and assisting in disaster relief. However, instances of misconduct by some members have been reported in the past, leading to calls for strengthening oversight mechanisms for their activities. This incident in Phuket may serve as a further warning to similar organizations across Thailand, and their future actions will be closely watched. Source: The Phuket Express