Politics
Bhumjaithai MP Rebuts Allegations Linking Anutin to Local Government Exam Irregularities
MP Asapol Santritraiphop has denied claims that Anutin Charnvirakul was involved in alleged corruption regarding local government recruitment exams.
On August 7, 2026, Asapol Santritraiphop, a Bhumjaithai Party MP for Sisaket and Chairman of the House Committee on Corruption Prevention and Suppression, addressed allegations made by Rangsiman Rome. Rome had suggested that Anutin Charnvirakul, during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, might have been linked to irregularities in local government recruitment exams, specifically noting a 2024 change in the testing contractor from Burapha University to Srinakharinwirot University.
Asapol rejected these claims, asserting that the alleged corruption network has existed since 2019–2021. He acknowledged that reports of bribery for positions in Sisaket have occurred but emphasized that the issue is systemic rather than tied to specific political figures. Asapol has urged the Department of Local Administration (DLA) to coordinate with five agencies to investigate 5,925 cases to identify the true beneficiaries of these schemes. Furthermore, he stated that the Bhumjaithai Party intends to propose legislative amendments to close loopholes and enable the prosecution of corruption across all government units.
For residents and expatriates, this development highlights ongoing scrutiny into public sector recruitment processes in Thailand. While the investigation aims to address long-standing administrative concerns, the extent of the corruption and the potential impact on local government staffing remain to be confirmed by the ongoing probe.