A Phuket assistant governor has been arrested on charges of acting as a middleman in a recruitment scam in which three victims allegedly paid a total of 900,000 baht in bribes.
Police from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) executed an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct on Friday evening, detaining Mr Rungruang Thimabut, who is accused of facilitating illegal payments linked to local government recruitment examinations.
Investigators allege Mr Rungruang told applicants he could secure their success in civil service entrance examinations by paying officials at the Department of Local Administration (DoLA). Three complainants were allegedly asked to pay 300,000 baht each.
Pol Maj Gen Prasong Chalermphan, commander of the ACD, said Mr Rungruang is accused of demanding, receiving or agreeing to receive benefits in exchange for unlawfully influencing state officials. The offences carry penalties of more than three years' imprisonment.
Police said the complainants had known Mr Rungruang since 2020, when he was district chief of Sungai Padi district in Narathiwat. After failing local government recruitment examinations twice, they sought his advice in Songkhla in March this year.
Mr Rungruang allegedly claimed he could help them secure civil service positions. The three applicants paid the money, but when none passed the examinations they lodged complaints with anti-corruption police.
Prosecutors opposed bail on those grounds. Despite that, the court granted temporary release under strict conditions, imposing a 100,000-baht surety and warning that bail would be revoked if he interfered with witnesses.
Mr Rungruang was among five officials transferred to Bangkok on May 25 pending an inquiry into claims local officials had solicited payments from entertainment venues in Patong. He returned to his post on Friday after the 30-day transfer period expired.
He later attracted public attention after disclosing a Line message allegedly sent by DoLA director-general Narucha Khosasivilai during the general election campaign containing the phrase "Please help blue", the colour widely associated with the Bhumjaithai Party.
Two district chiefs transferred alongside Mr Rungruang were also allowed to return to their posts after giving statements and facing no findings warranting serious disciplinary action.
