Category: The Bangkok Post

All key suspects in the civil service exam rigging scandal have been arrested, the officials who conspired with them will be charged and exam cheats will lose their jobs, senior officials said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also interior minister, said the three key suspects in the rigging of results of local government entry examinations nationwide were in custody.

Police investigators continued to gather evidence and compile the full case against them. The truth would be revealed to the public, he said.

The prime minister’s comments follow the arrest of Win Thanaphatcharaphokin, an adviser to the director of the Office of Promotion and Training at Kasetsart University; his younger sister, Sataporn Thanaphatcharaphokin; and Pichit Thangphrom, former director of the Strategy and Budget Division of Wichian Buri Municipality in Phetchabun province.

As interior minister, Mr Anutin supervises the Department of Local Administration (DLA), which is at the centre of the scandal.

Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said the three prime suspects arranged for 11 civil servants to change the scores of thousands of exam sitters, at Mr Pichit’s house in Nonthaburi province.

He said the 11 officials would next week face the same three charges that were pressed against the prime suspects – illegal assembly, document forgery and putting false information into a computer system.

Detectives would also find out who gave the exam-scores files to Mr Pichit, he said.

Unsit Sampuntharat, the permanent secretary for interior, said the investigation had found irregularities in the exam scores of about 5,000 new local government officials out of the 15,000 hired this year. They would probably lose their jobs.

He confirmed that everyone found involved in the rigging of the exam would face legal action.

About 400,000 people sat the exams that the DLA organised late last year to fill 6,700 positions. Thousands of candidates paid bribes ranging from 350,000 to 800,000 baht, depending on the desired positions, to ensure they got a passing grade.

When questioned about allegations that people connected to the examination fraud network may have links to senior figures in the Bhumjaithai Party, Mr Anutin insisted that anyone found to be involved would face legal consequences.

‘If it involves anyone, action will be taken against them all,’ he said.

Pressed on whether senior party figures would also be subject to investigation, he replied: ‘Certainly. If they are members of the party, there will be no exceptions. Whoever is involved must be dealt with according to the law and prosecuted.’

An entangled olive ridley sea turtle was rescued from a discarded fishing net after being found in a distressed state on the Karon beach shoreline on Monday. The turtle was found by a lifeguard who quickly called in a veterinary team from the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre. They freed and took the turtle into care for treatment and rehabilitation.

The centre said the turtle would be closely monitored and nursed back to full health, and then be released back into the Andaman Sea.

– About the species-The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the smallest and most abundant sea turtle. It has a smooth, greyish-green shell, plainer than the hawksbill’s or green turtle’s, with a relatively large head and rounder snout. It is distinguished by two pairs of prefrontal scales and six to eight lateral scutes (side scales) on its shell, versus four in other species.

It grows to 75-80cm in length and can weigh up to 50kg. It can breed once its shell reaches 60-65cm in length.

Adults feed in shallow coastal waters, but can dive to 300 metres, and nest once every one to three years between October and March. Their large, strong beaks are suited to shrimp, molluscs, crabs and fish.

The olive ridleys in Thailand occur chiefly along the Andaman coast, where most strandings are reported. Gulf of Thailand strandings are rare.

Nesting is confined to the Andaman coast – Rah, Phra Thong and Kho Khao islands and Thai Mueang beach in Phang Nga, plus Mai Khao, Kamala and Rawai beaches in Phuket – although dwindling nest numbers suggest the species may be nearing local extinction.

The olive ridley is a protected species under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act BE 2535 (1992).

Seri Ruam Thai Party Leader Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves said he had been summoned to Buri Ram Provincial Court after Newin Chidchob sued him over the Khao Kradong land dispute.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth said on Facebook on Monday that Mr Newin, a Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) backer, had accused him of defamation by publication and making a false report. The first hearing is scheduled for Aug 17. He said he intended to contest those allegations before the court.

The lawsuit followed Pol Gen Sereepisuth’s visit to Buri Ram last month to investigate the land dispute, which he alleged involved Mr Newin and his family.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth had asked whether Mr Newin would return 5,083 rai at Khao Kradong to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), which the court had ruled was the rightful owner.

According to the complaint, Pol Gen Sereepisuth gave media interviews and filed a police complaint concerning land occupied by Mr Newin and his family.

The plaintiff alleged that his statements were false and had damaged Mr Newin’s reputation, and asked the court to prosecute him for defamation by publication and making a false report to authorities.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth said he would use the proceedings to establish the facts and seek judicial scrutiny of the disputed land and related development approvals.

He plans to ask the court to summon land-title documents belonging to Mr Newin, his family and related companies to examine ownership and permits for buildings, a football stadium and a racing circuit.

He also wants the court to examine alleged road closures, the filling of public canals and whether the work was legally authorised.

The former national police chief said he already had aerial photographs and other supporting evidence and would continue to pursue the land-ownership issue regardless of the lawsuit.

He said that being sued would give him an opportunity to present all the evidence to the court for further examination.

Pol Gen Sereepisuth also referred to a 1995 incident in which he said he arrested campaign workers allegedly linked to Mr Newin and seized 11.4 million baht in cash. He said the case later led to convictions.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) has dismantled a major online gambling network accused of processing billions of baht through a sophisticated money-laundering operation involving nominee bank accounts, shell companies, illegal payment gateways and cryptocurrency conversions.

The operation, codenamed “All Game End Game”, resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects, including a former local politician, and the seizure of assets worth more than 13 million baht. Senior CCIB officers said on Monday the investigation targeted the “All Game 248” gambling website, which allegedly accepted bets on the 2026 FIFA World Cup and had been operating for about 18 months.

Investigators estimated the platform generated more than 1 billion baht in monthly transactions over the past three months, with thousands of registered users.

Police said the organisation operated a highly structured financial system designed to conceal illicit proceeds. More than 20 bank accounts linked directly to suspects and over 200 additional accounts used for money laundering were identified.

Authorities found that the network divided bank accounts into multiple layers to receive gambling deposits, temporarily hold funds and transfer profits to beneficiaries. The syndicate also relied on illegal payment gateway services and shell-company bank accounts to obscure financial transactions.

Investigators said foreign nationals were recruited to hold bank accounts on behalf of the network, making it more difficult for authorities to trace the flow of funds. The organisation also maintained regional managers responsible for overseeing operations across different parts of the country.

A key suspect, identified only as Sitthichai, 35, a former secretary to a provincial administrative organisation president who had previously been linked to an online investment fraud case, allegedly played a central role in converting cash into cryptocurrency before transferring the digital assets to multiple crypto wallets controlled by the network’s beneficiaries.

Police estimated that at least 500 million baht in illicit funds was converted into cryptocurrency each month, allowing the syndicate to further evade financial scrutiny. The Criminal Court approved arrest warrants for 15 suspects and search warrants for five locations in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Tak.

Raids uncovered approximately 3 million baht in cash, 20 bank passbooks, numerous electronic devices and more than 10 million baht frozen in bank accounts, bringing the total value of seized assets to over 13 million baht. Among those arrested were individuals allegedly responsible for cash withdrawals, nominee bank accounts, shell-company accounts, and cryptocurrency transactions.

A wave of new local e-marketplaces is emerging as new alternatives to the three dominant foreign players, which have combined revenue of around 172 billion baht.

The new entrants are seeking opportunities to capture growing seller interest in “local e-marketplace sovereignty”.

The move comes as sellers face mounting pressure from rising sales commissions and additional platform fees.

Against a backdrop of economic challenges and uncertainty over legislation aimed at regulating platform fees, local sellers are widening their sales channels and turning to alternative marketplace options.

Thaimart.com, a new local marketplace founded by Panthawat Nakvisut, will be launched on July 7. It will offer zero gross profit (GP) fees in the first year, with increases based on a tiered structure thereafter.

PantipMall will make the full-scale debut of its e-marketplace app on Aug 8, while ShopChill e-marketplace will make its full-scale debut in early 2027. YJmall was recently launched by influencer Chatmongkol Somkew.

Existing local players include Nex Gen Commerce and ThailandPostMart.

“We saw that an e-commerce infrastructure is another thing the country absolutely needs. That is why we developed Nex Gen Commerce,” Morragot Kulatumyotin, managing director of Internet Thailand Plc, parent company of the Nex Gen Commerce platform, told the Bangkok Post.

The platform provides a secure and sustainable alternative for Thai businesses that are heavily reliant on foreign platforms, Mrs Morragot said.

Nex Gen Commerce charges a GP rate of 1% and has pledged never to increase the rate.

Sellers do not have to pay anything if they do not make any sales. Those struggling to generate revenue can also receive mentoring and sales guidance from the platform’s support team.

Buyers and sellers can choose delivery services from affordable logistics providers such as Thailand Post and Flash Express.

Nex Gen Commerce positions itself as a full-service business engine for Thai small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Its tools include a payment gateway, e-tax invoicing and direct connections to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank, helping merchants access loans and other financial support.

It was selected by the Commerce Ministry as one of two official partners — alongside ThailandPostMart — for the national “Thai Chuay Thai” campaign aimed at boosting online sales among Thai SMEs.

The collaboration generated more than 100,000 app downloads and brought 10,000 stores onto the platform.

Mrs Morragot also sees growing demand for “digital sovereignty” among Thai merchants who are frustrated by rising GP fees and shifting algorithms on foreign-owned platforms.

“The government could help level the playing field by offering marketing subsidies or co-payment schemes that support local platforms,” she said.

PantipMall app

“PantipMall wants to build a sustainable e-marketplace. This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Niwat Chatawittayakul, chief executive of Digithun Worldwide Co, told the Bangkok Post.

Digithun is the technology partner of Pantip Mall and developer of the ShopSCAPE enterprise e-commerce solution.

Pantip Mall is positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative for small online sellers, he noted.

Pantip Mall has opened its marketplace in beta format. The platform currently has about 200,000 product listings from 500 sellers, with another 2,000 sellers waiting to join.

“We will leverage what Pantip already has: 2 million visitors a day, a strong community of reviewers and a large volume of trusted user-generated content,” Mr Niwat said.

The company plans to introduce sales-support tools, potentially in the fourth quarter, including customer-response assistance, image generation and content creation.

Pantip Mall charges sellers a GP fee of 3% and provides sales tools free of charge.

The company is also working with Saha Group, Thailand Post, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion, and other government agencies to build long-term partnerships.

Mr Niwat added that sellers must learn to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve overall operation and competitiveness.

Next year, the company plans to adopt Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol, an open framework that enables AI agents to manage product discovery, negotiation and checkout on a user’s behalf.

Zero GP

Peerasak Saetan, co-founder of iShip and ShopChill, said ShopChill was developed over a period of four years to support domestic sellers.

ShopChill e-marketplace draws on the group’s broader ecosystem, which includes logistics aggregator iShip, a franchised parcel drop-off network and a technology-development company.

“Our group aims to generate 1 billion baht in revenue by 2026,” Mr Peerasak said.

ShopChill’s main selling point is a permanent 0% GP fee rate.

ShopChill relies on its other revenue stream which is from its premium “Chill Mall” section that offers established Thai brands and charges a GP fee of 10%.

ShopChill soft launched its service after the Songkran festival. The platform has attracted about 5,000 shops, 500-1,000 affiliates and 7,000 buyers. A full-scale launch is planned for early next year.

“E-commerce is a marathon, not a sprint. I have no intention of burning cash to compete aggressively with foreign giants,” Mr Peerasak said.

Its strategy is to build on sustainable infrastructure. Over the next 3-5 years, he expects sellers’ orders to become more evenly distributed across different platforms.

He called on the government to ensure a fairer tax environment.

Foreign merchants can currently sell products in Thailand with little or no local tax burden, while Thai corporate sellers may face tax rates of up to 30%, he said.

He urged policymakers to restrict selected foreign imports that harm local industries and help Thai sellers export their products more easily.

Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to forge closer cooperation in security, border development and the defence industry, with both countries looking to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘strategic partnership for peace and development’, according to Thailand’s Public Relations Department.

Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthumjaroen paid an official visit to Malaysia on Monday and Tuesday at the invitation of Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin.

The visit followed discussions between the two ministers during the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in late May, as well as a recent official visit to Malaysia by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, during which the two countries inaugurated a new road linking the Sadao border checkpoint.

During their talks, the two defence ministers agreed to deepen cooperation by promoting a ‘partnership for border area development’ that involves improving the quality of life for border communities while maintaining long-term security.

The ministers also welcomed progress in drafting a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, which is expected to be signed at the 57th Thailand-Malaysia General Border Committee (GBC) meeting later this year.

Discussing security issues in Thailand’s troubled southern border provinces, the Thai side stressed the importance of preventing cross-border areas from being used to support violent activities.

Both countries agreed to forge stronger military-to-military coordination to improve operational flexibility and communication along the shared border.

Thailand and Malaysia also agreed to expand cooperation in the defence industry through supply chain integration, technology exchange and joint capability development.

The two countries will build on the success of the First Win wheeled armoured vehicle programme and explore opportunities for aircraft maintenance cooperation with Malaysia’s Aircraft Inspection, Repair and Overhaul Depot (Airod), a subsidiary of National Aerospace and Defence Industries (Nadi).

Airod provides aircraft maintenance, repair and inspection services for military and civilian operators and is expected to play a greater role in enhancing regional self-reliance in defence manufacturing and maintenance.

The ministers also agreed to cooperate under Asean’s expert working groups and pledged closer policy coordination to address emerging transnational threats, including cybercrime, online scams and transboundary pollution.

A preliminary inspection into the deadly inferno at Rong Beer Na Ladprao beer hall has uncovered multiple safety violations, as police investigate the blaze that killed 30 people and injured 75 others.

The Interior Ministry found that a fire escape route at the rear of the premises was blocked by a candy stall, while an emergency exit was marked “Do Not Open (Staff Only)”, causing confusion among customers trying to flee.

Officials also found that fire-resistant materials were not used in the building’s construction or interior decoration.

The inspection was conducted with police, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and other relevant agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning.

Authorities believe the fire may have started from an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit above the ceiling before spreading rapidly, although the cause has yet to be confirmed.

The venue did not have a licence to operate as an entertainment venue and only held licences for a restaurant and live music performances. It was also located outside an area zoned for entertainment establishments.

Further inspections will determine whether the building was authorised for its current use and whether illegal modifications were made.

National police chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch said a joint investigation team had been formed to examine the case, including business partnerships and officials involved in licensing and inspections.

“Police are also inspecting the building’s electrical system, circuit breakers, sprinkler system and structural modifications to determine whether negligence contributed to the deaths,” he said.

Pol Gen Kittharath said officials found two entrances at the front and two exits at the rear, but one exit near the toilets was blocked by a stall. Another had no doorknob and was obstructed by shelves and lockers, leaving only a narrow passage.

“Many victims were found in the men’s and women’s toilets. Officials believe they may have been unable to see escape routes after thick smoke filled the venue and the power failed,” he said.

He said the tragedy highlighted the need for entertainment venue operators to prioritise customer safety over commercial interests.

Pol Maj Gen Panlop Araemla, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said police had yet to interview witnesses to verify reports that staff locked doors to prevent customers leaving without paying.

The bodies were sent to the Police General Hospital for identification. As of Tuesday morning, 30 people had died, and 75 others were injured, including 24 in serious condition. About 45 people believed to have been inside the venue remained unaccounted for.

Anurat Khruachaem, assistant to the Chatuchak district director, said officials inspected the venue in April.

The BMA will conduct further inspections to assess the building’s structural integrity and determine whether it remains safe.

The cabinet has approved a new calculation method for pensions from the Social Security Fund, aimed at improving fairness and aligning Thailand’s pension system with international standards, Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on Tuesday.

The draft ministerial regulation on old-age benefits calls for the use of the Care (Career Average Revalued Earnings) formula to calculate pensions, he said.

The regulation revises the criteria for calculating old-age pensions and lump-sum retirement benefits for insured workers to ensure that benefits more accurately reflect contributions made throughout an individual’s working life, while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the Social Security Fund (SSF).

Mr Julapun said the regulation would take effect 180 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.

The Care formula will replace the existing Final Average Earnings (FAE) formula, which calculates pensions based on average salary during the final 60 months of employment, said the minister.

Under the Care system, pensions will be calculated based on average earnings over an insured person’s entire working career. Historical wages will be adjusted to present-day values through a pension points system, ensuring that payments more accurately reflect lifetime contributions to the SSF.

The regulation also revises the calculation of lump-sum retirement benefits for insured workers who have contributed for fewer than 180 months.

Under the new rules, eligible contributors will receive a lump sum equivalent to the combined contributions made by both the employee and employer, together with accrued investment returns, even if they have contributed for less than 12 months.

Safeguards built in

Previous governments have been wary of addressing pension inequity, fearing opposition from unions concerned that the reform could reduce benefits for some of their members.

The opposition People’s Party, which has made Social Security reform one of its priority policies, supports the Care formula. It has said that some people who had taken advantage of the existing system were attempting to obstruct reform by spreading disinformation.

Critics have argued that the Care formula would disadvantage those who planned their retirement around the existing rules, particularly individuals who increased their contribution base during the final five years before retirement.

Mr Julapun on Tuesday stressed that the regulation includes transitional measures to protect the rights of existing and soon-to-retire beneficiaries.

Current pension recipients whose benefits would increase under the Care formula will receive the higher pension beginning in the month after the regulation takes effect. Those whose benefits would be lower under the new calculation will continue receiving their existing pension without any reduction.

For insured workers who become eligible for an old-age pension within five years after the regulation comes into force, those whose pensions would decline under the Care formula will receive compensation for the difference on a sliding scale.

The compensation will cover 100% of the shortfall in the first year, gradually declining to 20% by the fifth year.

‘The revised calculation method will ensure that insured persons under Sections 33 and 39 (of the Social Security Act) receive pensions that more accurately reflect the contributions they have made throughout their working lives,’ said Mr Julapun.

‘It promotes greater fairness, balance and consistency with international standards adopted by many countries.’

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is excited about the prospect of more visitors from Malaysia entering Thailand through a new, bigger checkpoint in Sadao district of Songkhla, but residents in the town where the old checkpoint is located don’t feel like celebrating.

The tourism agency has welcomed the opening of the new Sadao checkpoint and hopes it will end the gridlock from long lines of Malaysian cars and tour buses, and encourage Malaysians to spend money in southern Thailand.

‘The new Sadao road creates an opportunity to transform a border crossing into a regional tourism corridor,’ TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said in a statement released on Monday.

The Thai and Malaysian prime ministers, Anutin Charnvirakul and Anwar Ibrahim, on Friday jointly opened the new Thai checkpoint and a new road to the border.

The new crossing is now the main checkpoint for all vehicles, from trucks to tour buses. The old crossing in Ban Dan Nok will not be closed but has been relegated to be used for small cars and people travelling on foot.

The two checkpoints are about one kilometre apart.

The TAT is planning a new campaign to draw Malaysians to travel beyond Hat Yai city, their favourite destination, to explore Phatthalung, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces.

Malaysians are second only to Chinese among foreign visitors to Thailand. Two million Malaysians visited the country from Jan 1 to July 8 this year, and the TAT targets 4.8 million of them for the full year.

Uncertainty in Dan Nok

With tour buses are diverted to the new checkpoint, residents in Dan Nok are living with uncertainty about the future because the road to the new checkpoint does not pass the town.

Dan Nok bustles with shops, hotels and entertainment venues mainly for Malaysian visitors who do not want to travel to Hat Yai city. It is also a stop for Thai tourists to shop and spend at the border.

Businesses and residents in Dan Nok could be affected because not as many Thai and Malaysian vehicles will pass through the border town anymore, said a commentary on Dan Nok Stories, a Facebook page dedicated to the town.

‘Everything here in Dan Nok is feeling the impact,’ the owner of a business that sells car insurance for Thai vehicles entering Malaysia told Thai PBS.

But Bunthoon U-chareon, the Sadao Customs House chief, told the broadcaster that Dan Nok is still a good place for Malaysians to visit after crossing the border to Thailand.

Government House was in festive mood on Tuesday as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and several cabinet ministers took turns at the microphone alongside Phuket rocker Nene Royal, ahead of her upcoming appearance on ‘America’s Got Talent’.

The 16-year-old musician – real name Rattikarn ‘Praew’ Umloy – arrived around 11am, shortly before the weekly cabinet meeting. The occasion was a publicity event arranged by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to showcase the young talent who has captured international attention.

The government has named Nene as a tourism ambassador to help showcase and promote Thailand to the world. It also announced that it would cover all her expenses related to her participation in America’s Got Talent.

Also present at Tuesday’s event were Deputy PMs Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Yodchanan Wongsawat, and ministers Prasert Jantararuangtong, Varawut Silpa-archa, Julapun Amornvivat and Nikorn Soemklang.

Nene performed Thai rocker Sek Loso’s hit Somsan as the group clapped along, with the microphone passed between the prime minister and ministers to sing verses in turn.

Next up was a guitar solo followed by her inimitable version of Zombie, the Cranberries song that earned Nene four ‘yes’ votes in the first round of the 21st season of America’s Got Talent.

Mr Anutin presented her with an Amazing Thailand pin and souvenir set, praising her talent and pledging government support as she advances in the competition.

Mr Anutin presented her with an Amazing Thailand pin and souvenir set, praising her talent and pledging government support as she advances in the competition.

‘She has brought pride and recognition to Thailand,’ Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said of Nene.

‘Simply by appearing on one of the world’s biggest talent shows, she has already helped promote Thailand. Going forward, we want her to help showcase Thailand’s tourism, culture and soft power because she has talent in many areas.’

Speaking to reporters, Nene thanked her supporters and asked people to continue following her social media channels and cheering her on throughout the competition.

She admitted she was still adjusting to her sudden rise to fame.

‘I still don’t realise how famous I’ve become. Everything happened so fast,’ she said. ‘My life has changed a lot. Everywhere I go, people recognise me.

‘I can’t even go out to buy meatballs anymore.’

Anutin the sax man

For Prime Minister Anutin, the sing-along with Nene represented just one side of his musical talent. Last week, he played the saxophone as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sang along to Frank Sinatra’s My Way.

Mr Anutin’s two-day visit to Malaysia on July 9 and 10 aimed to strengthen economic cooperation and resolve an issue that had disrupted seafood trade.