Anutin to Visit Interior Ministry Twice a Week Amid Local Exam Fraud Probe

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has outlined his new schedule to visit the Ministry of the Interior twice a week, addressing public concerns by asserting that past operations were not lax. He emphasized that the existing regulatory framework is entirely sound, but the breakdown occurred due to dishonest individuals abusing the system. According to Anutin, officials placed in those positions were originally vetted for their capability and integrity, meaning the root cause of the breaches must be directly addressed and corrected.

When questioned by reporters regarding local crackdowns on mafia figures in Phuket, Anutin clarified that the subjects in question were merely local residents acting as influential figures, which required a collaborative resolution involving provincial authorities, police, the military, and security agencies.

Regarding public trust in the government, Anutin stated that while individuals intent on corruption cannot be stopped beforehand, the government swiftly uncovered and dismantled nearly the entire operation within just over two weeks of the incident. Authorized committees have already revoked the eligibility of fraudulent candidates. Nirat Pongsitthavorn, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Interior and acting Director-General of the Department of Local Administration, has reportedly rolled out the eighth wave of administrative actions, with the ninth and tenth phases currently in development.

Anutin further revealed that he met with Suthat Trakulthamsook, President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), who confirmed he will personally chair the investigative subcommittee for this case. This direct oversight ensures the investigation will remain thorough and transparent. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprayoon is scheduled to submit his investigative findings to Anutin within two to three days, weaving together all threads of the corruption network.