Thousands of local government recruits could lose their positions after authorities uncovered apparent discrepancies between their original examination scores and the results later published.
The names of 5,814 candidates have now been referred to the Central Examination Committee, which is expected to decide on July 23 whether their appointments should be revoked.
The move forms part of an expanding investigation into suspected fraud during last year’s local government recruitment examinations, with officials examining how scores may have been altered before the final results were announced.
Permanent secretary for interior Unsit Sampuntharat said the irregularities were discussed during a meeting of the Central Committee for Local Government Personnel Examinations at the Department of Local Administration (DLA) on Wednesday.
He said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed all relevant agencies to pursue the investigation to its conclusion and provide the public with a clear explanation of the findings.
The committee reviewed a comparison between candidates’ raw examination scores and the officially announced results. The examination was carried out by the DLA in cooperation with the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Special Investigation.
The review identified 5,814 candidates whose results contained apparent irregularities.
According to Mr Unsit, the candidates were divided into three groups. More than 3,000 were found to have received significant increases in their scores, while more than 1,000 candidates who had already achieved high marks were given unusually large additional increases.
A further 400 candidates had discrepancies of only one mark, although officials found their answer sheets unclear.
”The committee agreed to forward the names of all 5,814 candidates to the central committee, which has the legal authority to decide whether appointments should be revoked,” he said.
“The three local government personnel commissions, representing provincial administrative organisations, municipalities and tambon administrative organisations, will consider the evidence on July 23 before making a decision,” Mr Unsit said.
Any final revocation orders would be issued by the heads of the local authorities that appointed the candidates
He said all examination scores would have to be recounted before reserve candidates could be promoted to fill any resulting vacancies. However, the answer sheets remain in the custody of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
”If further irregularities emerge during the recount, additional legal action could follow,” he said.
Candidates who have not yet received appointments will not be immediately affected. Any vacancies arising from revoked appointments would instead be filled according to a revised merit list.
Asked whether authorities would seek to recover salaries already paid to officials whose appointments were later revoked, Mr Unsit said the DLA would examine the matter separately.
Investigators have also not ruled out extending the inquiry to earlier recruitment examinations should evidence emerge linking additional individuals or agencies to the alleged fraud.
Separately, Mr Anutin announced on Wednesday that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the case.
The suspects, identified only as Pichit, Win and Satthaporn, face several charges, including criminal association, conspiracy, forging official documents, concealing or destroying official documents, dishonestly entering false information into a computer system and unlawfully disclosing official secrets.
Mr Anutin thanked the agencies involved in the investigation and said the government was committed to handling the case impartially and according to the available evidence in order to restore public confidence.
He added that investigators had uncovered indications that an organised network may have been involved.
