House Committee investigates 2023 district chief exam fraud
The House Committee on Political Development investigates alleged corruption in the 2023 district chief exam after whistleblowers reported manipulated answer sheets, while Thammasat University admitted to a year-printing error.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The House Committee investigates alleged irregularities in the 2023 district chief recruitment exam filed by an official.
- The whistleblower reported manipulated answer sheets with crossed-out years and mismatched identification numbers.
- Thammasat University admitted to printing the wrong year on the answer sheets but stated candidates corrected it on-site.
- The committee plans to compare current allegations with historical exam corruption cases from 2009.
On August 20, 2026, at the Parliament House, Ms. Phakkhamon Nunanan, a list MP from the People's Party and chairperson of the House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications, and Public Participation, addressed reporters regarding complaints of irregularities in the 2023 district chief selection examination administered by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). The whistleblower, who took the exam seven times before his upcoming retirement, raised concerns that the answer sheet evaluated might not be the actual one he submitted.
Ms. Phakkhamon stated that the committee has invited a former DOPA director-general from 2009 to provide comparative insights into past large-scale exam corruption scandals, helping lawmakers analyze similarities and differences in fraudulent methods. The whistleblower previously sought assistance from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), but reported a lack of substantial progress, prompting him to pursue this final parliamentary review to protect his professional dignity.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Mr. Sarawut Yama-ae, District Chief of Chae A-rong district in Narathiwat province and the complainant, detailed his suspicions, noting that he prepared thoroughly and was confident he answered 62 questions correctly based on study materials from 2022. However, upon release of the results, his name was omitted. When he requested his score report and answer sheets after four months of waiting, he received only 4 out of 12 requested items, which displayed irregularities including trimmed margins, missing watermarks, and mismatched ID numbers.
"An exam might decide a person's future, but exam transparency decides public faith in the entire state system."
Mr. Sarawut Yama-ae
Mr. Sarawut further highlighted that the answer sheets bore a crossed-out year, showing 2025 instead of the actual 2023 exam date without initials, and noted discrepancies where competency sections contained three choices on the test paper but five choices on the answer key. Following unsuccessful inquiries with Thammasat University's internal audit committee, he escalated the matter to investigative bodies seeking formal legal accountability.
Context and Analysis: Public sector recruitment examinations, particularly for managerial positions like district chiefs, remain highly sensitive issues requiring absolute transparency and rigorous oversight. By drawing parallels to historical examination fraud from 2009, the parliamentary committee aims to uncover structural vulnerabilities in question paper distribution and grading systems. This investigation serves as a crucial test for legislative oversight bodies seeking to restore institutional trust among civil servants and the public.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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