Interior Ministry files police complaint over LAD exam fraud

The Interior Ministry filed a complaint with the police’s Counter Corruption Division (CCD) last night against unnamed individuals allegedly involved in examination fraud in the recruitment of almost 7,000 staff for the Local Administration Department (LAD).

The complaint, filed by Subin Saengsuriya on behalf of the ministry, follows a CCD raid on a company in Bang Yai district of Nonthaburi province on Tuesday, during which a large quantity of examination papers was found on the premises.

According to an investigation report, the exam papers were secretly moved to the company so that the scores of applicants who had allegedly paid corrupt officials to pass the exam could be altered, enabling them to secure jobs in the LAD and local administrative organisations.

Only the scores of those who had failed the exams but allegedly paid bribes were changed.

Meanwhile, Pol Lt-Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, which oversees the CCD, said the police’s responsibility is to file criminal charges against those involved in cheating and the falsification of official documents.

The investigation into the broader recruitment exam fraud is the responsibility of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), while the Interior Ministry has set up a fact-finding committee to identify the officials involved and take disciplinary action against them.

Patthanapong Chanpenpoon, assistant secretary-general of the NACC, said today that about 860,000 answer sheets are now being kept under seal by the commission.

He said officials from relevant agencies will be asked to examine the answer papers, while technical experts will be consulted on what technology can be used to assist in the forensic examination of such a large volume of documents.

Meanwhile, LAD deputy director-general Thanon Panphipas issued a circular yesterday to all provincial governors and the Pattaya city administration, instructing them not to hire new staff who had “passed” the recruitment exam pending the outcome of the investigation.

It was reported that many applicants had been approached by individuals claiming they could help secure jobs for them in exchange for payments ranging from at least 350,000 baht for a low-ranking post in a local administrative organisation to as much as 800,000 baht for a higher-ranking position.

The Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) said in a statement yesterday that Srinakharinwirot University had been hired to organise the recruitment exam in December last year, while the office was responsible for issuing the exam papers, assessing the results and announcing them.

The OCSC urged exam candidates and the public to trust the office, saying it is open to scrutiny to ensure fairness and transparency.