Over 3,400 face job loss in Thai civil service exam fraud

More than 3,400 local-government officials face losing their jobs after authorities uncovered widespread score manipulation in a civil service examination, prompting the Interior Ministry to approve a new list of successful candidates to restore fairness. Interior Ministry permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat said on Friday that the Local Personnel Administration Committee (LCAC) had approved the list based on verified scores to restore fairness to candidates who passed legitimately. Those whose scores were improperly altered will have their eligibility revoked or face legal action, depending on the circumstances. Of 438,277 people who applied for the examination, 279,949 sat the test. Authorities found that the scores of 5,925 candidates had been altered. According to authorities, 5,145 candidates who had originally failed were given passing scores, while 774 candidates who had already passed received additional marks. The 3,404 officials appointed after originally failing are now facing revocation of their appointments. Of the 774 candidates who had already passed, 97 remained eligible for appointment after authorities re-ranked candidates using verified scores. They will remain on the list for now, but all names will be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and investigating agencies to determine the source of the alterations. Mr Unsit said candidates, brokers and state officials found involved in the fraud would face disciplinary, criminal and other legal action, stressing that "no one will escape accountability". Deputy Interior Minister Vorasit Liangprasit said about 50,000 successful candidates would be announced on Saturday. Cases involving the 5,925 whose names were revoked will be sent to provincial committees before being forwarded to local administrative organisations for action. The LCAC has set Aug 31 as the deadline for completing all revocations. Replacement appointments could begin around October after vacancies and the final list are confirmed, he said. Mr Vorasit also defended Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul over the cancellation of Burapha University's contract to organise the examination, saying complaints about applicants being solicited for money emerged after the university won the bidding in 2024. Mr Anutin, serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister at that time, ordered an investigation, while the Department of Local Administration added civil and criminal liability clauses and the Comptroller General's Department agreed the contract should be cancelled.