Two DSI officials arrested in exam-fraud case

Duo linked to ‘Mayor Heng’ reportedly handled B55 million in payments from job aspirants

Two senior officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have been arrested for allegedly demanding money in exchange for helping candidates pass civil service examinations for positions in local government, police said on Friday.

The two men stand accused of receiving payments totalling 55 million baht from 700 people, supposedly as deposits for securing government positions under a quota that the suspects claimed to have obtained from an influential figure.

The suspects were identified as Itthiphon, 49, a senior special case officer with the Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime; and Anurak, 46, a senior special case investigator.

Both men were arrested at DSI offices: Mr Itthiphon in Chon Buri and Mr Anurak in Bangkok. They were arrested under warrants issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on charges of soliciting or accepting benefits in exchange for influencing officials to help people secure government positions. Both men were taken to Bangkok for questioning.

Officers from the police Anti-Corruption Division, led by Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat Pankaeo, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), carried out the operations to detain the two suspects on Friday.

The first search was conducted at a residence in Soi Thoet Rachan 27 in Don Muang district of Bangkok, where officers found documents indicating that one of the suspects owned another house. They subsequently searched a second property in Don Muang, which was valued at about 20 million baht.

The accused officials were reportedly implicated by Prawit Jaruratkul, a former Pheu Thai Party MP candidate who is also a suspect in the case.

Mr Prawit, 62, known in his home province of Si Sa Ket as “Nayok Heng” (Mayor Heng), was detained at a condominium in Bangkok on Aug 27. He allegedly solicited payments of up to 650,000 baht each from job aspirants by claiming the two DSI officials could help them pass recruitment exams.

According to Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat, several people subsequently failed the civil service exams anyway but were denied refunds. (Story continues below)

Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat Pankaeo (second from right), deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, announces the arrest of two DSI officials in connection with the civil service exam scandal, at a media briefing on Friday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)

Phetchabun connection

Pol Maj Gen Prasong Chalermphan, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, said Mr Itthiphon reportedly claimed to have received a “quota” of positions from Sgt Maj Pichit Thangphrom, a municipal official in Phetchabun province. The latter was arrested earlier and is said to have been one of the masterminds of the exam-rigging scheme.

The investigation found that money was collected from 701 applicants and handed over to Mr Itthiphon and Mr Anurak on two occasions in November last year, totalling 55 million baht.

Both suspects denied the charges and were handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.

Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat said the two officials allegedly acted in their personal capacity and did not use their official authority or positions.

Hundreds dismissed

The Department of Local Administration last month terminated the employment of 3,868 civil servants nationwide, suspecting they had been hired on the basis of fraudulent exam results late last year.

The mass dismissals resulted from an investigation that exposed a network of corrupt officials who demanded bribes totalling billions of baht from candidates in exchange for rigging their results to ensure they got their desired positions.

Bribes reportedly ranged from 350,000 to 800,000 baht each depending on the position sought. About 480,000 people sat the exams.