Amlo Eyes Over 200 in Local Exam Fraud Probe

The Thai government has widened its criminal investigation into a large-scale exam fraud scandal within local government recruitment. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is currently tracing the financial transactions of more than 200 individuals implicated in the network. Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek stated on Saturday that the Amlo probe is part of the government's broader criminal inquiry into the scandal. As part of the operation, police have summoned 13 suspects, divided into two groups. The first group comprised two state officials: Theerut Suphawiboonphol, former director-general of the Department of Local Administration (DLA), and Ruangdej Sirikij, director of the Educational and Psychological Test Bureau at Srinakharinwirot University. They are accused of abuse of power for allegedly facilitating the alteration of candidates' answer sheets. The second group of at least 11 suspects is expected to face charges of illegal gathering and violating the Computer Crime Act. Investigators are expected to conclude the case and submit it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) by Wednesday, Ms Rachada said. She added that the government is working to disqualify 5,925 candidates whose results were altered to ensure they passed, following a meeting of the Local Personnel Administration Committee (LCAC) on Thursday. The LCAC has set Aug 31 as the deadline to complete the revocations. Replacement appointments could begin around October once vacancies and the final list are confirmed. Meanwhile, a committee probing the examination fraud, led by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, will submit its report to the government for further legal action, Ms Rachada said. Insisting on fairness, she said the government is committed to prosecuting all those involved in the scheme. "The operation is set not only to prosecute offenders but also to reaffirm public trust in recruitment examination procedures, while preventing such allegations from arising in the future," the spokeswoman stated.