Bangkok: Police have arrested the mayor of Nong Hmi Subdistrict, Rasi Salai, following allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for renewing employee contracts.
According to Thai News Agency, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) apprehended Mr. Yosapon Srisai, the head of the Nong Hmi Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Sisaket Province, on September 17th. The arrest was executed in collaboration with the Investigation and Special Affairs Division, the NACC office in Sisaket, the Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Suppression Division (ACMSD), and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). The operation was conducted under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 3, dated September 16, 2026.
The investigation began after a tip-off reported that government officials in the subdistrict were allegedly taking bribes for contract renewals. The NACC's findings indicated that Mr. Yosapon Srisai had demanded 30,000 baht from each of 28 contract employees during a meeting in August 2016, resulting in a total of over 840,000 baht being solicited.
It was unveiled that employees faced significant pressure to comply with the payment demands to ensure their contracts were renewed. Failure to do so would lead to the hiring of replacements or potential elimination of positions. As a result, some employees reluctantly agreed to pay to secure their employment. The NACC, alongside other anti-corruption bodies, gathered substantial evidence, leading to the criminal charges against Mr. Yosapon. He faces accusations of abusing his public office, soliciting and accepting illegal benefits, and other corruption-related offenses as per the Criminal Code and the Organic Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption.
An operation was carried out to arrest Mr. Yosapon and search his office, where cash was discovered and seized as evidence. The mayor, along with the confiscated money, was handed over to the Anti-Corruption Division for further legal action.