Law
Local Government Exam Fraud: Honest Candidates to be Appointed in August
Thai authorities confirm 5,925 cases of exam fraud and announce that honest candidates will receive their appointments this month.
On August 5, 2026, Nirat Phongsitthaworn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and acting head of the Department of Local Administration (DLA), addressed the ongoing investigation into local government examination irregularities. He confirmed that the number of identified fraudulent cases remains at 5,925, as reported by Khaosod Online.
During a meeting of the Local Government Official Commission (KST), officials reviewed the status of candidates categorized into three groups. The first group consists of those who passed the exam honestly; the DLA has committed to notifying these individuals for official appointment within August 2026. The second and third groups involve candidates whose scores were improperly adjusted, including those already employed. Authorities are currently determining the appropriate administrative actions, such as potential termination or dismissal from government service, and are coordinating with provincial committees to finalize these measures.
For residents and expatriates, this development is significant as it marks the resolution of a long-standing administrative delay that has impacted local government staffing across Thailand. While the appointment of honest candidates is set for this month, the specific legal outcomes for those involved in the score-tampering remain to be finalized by the relevant provincial authorities. The DLA emphasized that the process is moving forward following directives from the Prime Minister to resolve internal delays.