Key witness, financial trail emerge in local government recruitment exam fraud probe

Bangkok, on 4 September 2026, the Counter Corruption Division (CCD) of the police is set to receive crucial information from Prawit, a former chief executive of a subdistrict administrative organization and a parliamentary candidate from the Pheu Thai party. Prawit, also known as "Mayor Heng," was arrested on 26 August in connection with allegations of soliciting money from local government employees seeking civil service positions. However, he was later released on bail.

According to a source familiar with Prawit's case, he was initially supposed to give a statement at the CCD on 4 September, but the meeting location was altered by the police. The source claims that Prawit was set to provide evidence regarding financial transactions that might connect two Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials to the ongoing corruption and cheating allegations in the local government recruitment exams.

These DSI officials, code-named "Win" and Sgt Maj Pichit (also known as "Ja Pichit"), are currently held in Bangkok Remand Prison. Prawit allegedly brought a key witness to the police investigation, who reportedly possesses intimate knowledge of the DSI officials and could shed light on potential connections between one of the officials and Pichit.

They were reportedly schoolmates. Additionally, the source suggests that the mastermind behind the alleged exam fraud network holds a higher position than the department chief previously prosecuted in the case, suggesting a ministerial-level office in the current Thai government. However, these claims have not been independently verified.

The source further claims that Prawit was not part of the solicitation of funds or the cheating operation but stepped in after a subordinate reportedly lost money to the network. The source alleges that his arrest was politically motivated and aimed to disrupt the investigation. However, the police have not publicly confirmed these allegations regarding the identity or political position of the supposed mastermind.