Baku:State Audit Office An investigation by the State Audit Office (SAO) into Thai PBS has revealed financial damages exceeding 85 million baht. The investigation uncovered irregularities in compensation disbursement and program production fees, with a report in preparation concerning executives' misuse of company vehicles while receiving reimbursement for transportation expenses.
According to Thai News Agency, the SAO emphasized that the investigation was prompted by an internal complaint rather than as a retaliatory measure. This complaint highlighted expenditures not adhering to regulations, potentially causing organizational damage. Consequently, the Office of the Auditor General initiated an investigation into three key areas reporter recruitment compliance, organizational performance, and specific offenses by individuals, with findings to be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) if corruption is suspected.
The audit findings, submitted on October 2nd and 9th, 2026, revealed that Thai PBS receives over 2 billion baht annually, with more than half allocated to media procurement and production. However, performance indicators were found to lack continuity and in-depth analysis, and viewer behavior data was underutilized in program planning. Additionally, the program file storage system was fragmented, hindering transparent performance measurement.
The audit also found that between 2017 and 2025, the hiring of a production company for the "Jor Yo Lok" news program may have violated acts requiring fair price competition due to its specific procurement method. Furthermore, compensation disbursements for presenters and guests lacked a supporting legal framework following new NBTC regulations in 2024, resulting in unregulated expenditures in 2025.
The investigation into executive vehicle usage from 2016 to 2021 revealed misuse of company vehicles despite existing reimbursement regulations, violating principles of state asset use. The audit report is expected to be submitted soon, with potential legal action against involved officials.
Mr. Suthipong Boonithi, spokesperson for the Office of the Auditor General, addressed the media leak of audit results, noting the confidential nature of the document due to named individuals. An investigation is underway to identify the source of the leak and impose disciplinary measures if necessary. The SAO clarified that its audits are routine and not influenced by politics, focusing on factual reporting and necessary disciplinary actions.