Nakhon Nayok:The mayor of Ban Yai Subdistrict Administrative Organization has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a local government exam cheating ring.
According to Thai News Agency, the Anti-Corruption Division raided the Ban Yai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, leading to the arrest of Mrs. Phanee, also known as Mayor Or, aged 63. She is accused of being involved in the exam cheating scandal, which reportedly involved 155 million baht and a list of thousands of candidates who were allegedly selected through connections to cheat on multiple exams.
A complaint was filed with the Anti-Corruption Division of the Royal Thai Police concerning a January 2024 incident where an individual allegedly solicited 350,000 baht from Mr. Anan in exchange for securing a position as a civil servant or local government employee. The complainant ranked first for a Revenue Collection Officer position at Phatthalung Municipality but was later removed from the candidate list and dismissed, as announced by the Central Committee for Local Government Employee Examinations on August 7, 2026. The 350,000 baht paid was reportedly funneled to Ms. Phanee, prompting the filing of the complaint.
Investigations revealed that Ms. Phanee was a part of a broader cheating network previously targeted by authorities. She allegedly received the substantial sum from Mr. Yosaphat, or "Sia Noi," who is linked to Mr. Anont, in a scheme affecting multiple areas. As a result, Division 5 of the Anti-Corruption Bureau gathered sufficient evidence to obtain an arrest warrant for Ms. Phanee from the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct.