Bangkok: The Local Government Personnel Commission has approved the removal of the first batch of 3,621 local government officials following an investigation into examination irregularities. This decision comes after a meeting chaired by Mr. Arsit Sampanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, where it was resolved to revoke the appointments of these civil servants due to clear evidence of wrongdoing in their exam scores. A recount of all 400,000 votes is to be conducted within 15 days to ensure fairness in the appointment process.
According to Thai News Agency, the investigation has revealed a list of 5,814 individuals with abnormal scores, categorized into three distinct groups. The first group consists of approximately 3,621 individuals with significantly increased scores, the second group includes around 1,713 candidates whose already good scores saw abnormal increases, and the third group comprises about 480 individuals with minimal score discrepancies but unclear answer sheets. The Ministry of Interior plans to collaborate with reputable institutions like Thammasat University and the Civil Service Commission for a transparent review of all 800,000 answer sheets.
Discussions with relevant authorities identified the Civil Service Commission as the entity responsible for announcing the successful candidates and, consequently, revoking the erroneous appointment orders. This step is essential to restore justice for more than 9,000 candidates who passed the exam legitimately. The police and the National Anti-Corruption Commission are investigating those involved in the offenses, with findings expected soon.
The public is keenly observing whether the names of the 3,621 individuals in the first group will be disclosed. The Permanent Secretary assured that once decisions are finalized, each province will be notified, and local administrative organizations will handle the revocation process. This legally mandated procedure will be executed promptly, and the media should already be aware of the individuals involved.
Attention has also turned to Mr. Nirat Pongsitthithavorn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, due to his alleged connection with Mr. Win, a suspect in the examination fraud. While Mr. Nirat admitted knowing Mr. Win, he denied any professional association or requests for employment from him. The situation continues to unfold with significant public interest.