Category: The Bangkok Post

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has designated local government recruitment exam scandal a special case, citing its scale, complexity and the large number of people implicated.

The case centres on score manipulation and bribery during recruitment exams organised last year by the Department of Local Administration (DLA) under the Interior Ministry.

The initial evidence suggests senior officials, exam organisers, brokers and candidates who paid for altered scores were all involved, Surapong Intharathaworn, the NACC secretary-general, said on Wednesday.

The NACC has established four investigative committees to probe senior DLA officials; other civil servants responsible for exam organisation and results; non-official actors, including brokers and candidates who paid for doctored scores; and other individuals linked to the wrongdoing.

The NACC will coordinate with the police and the Department of Special Investigation to strengthen the inquiry, Mr Surapong said.

The existence of what appears to be an organised corruption network has seriously undermined public confidence in the integrity of civil service recruitment, he said. It warrants an intensive investigation to identify those who orchestrated, facilitated and benefited from the operation, he added.

The exam scandal first came to light following the arrest of 10 people, mostly civil servants, at a house in Nonthaburi last month. They were found tampering with about 3,000 answer sheets to make them match the announced scores of exam sitters who had passed the nationwide recruitment process.

Further investigation revealed an organised network that collected bribes ranging from 350,000 to 800,000 baht, depending on the desired positions, from people seeking to ensure they got a passing grade.

The Interior Ministry has since found that around 5,000 candidates had scores on their scanned answer sheets that did not match the scores published in the official results following an initial review of more than 15,000 successful candidates who had already been appointed to local government positions.

The NACC investigation could take months or even years, but Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has said that if the Interior Ministry finds clear evidence of cheating, it can immediately sack offenders and take back their salaries.

Reforms on the agenda

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt on Wednesday chaired the inaugural meeting of a fact-finding and legal review committee established to examine the scandal and recommend reforms.

Mr Pakorn described local administration as a cornerstone of Thailand’s democratic system and decentralisation goals, saying the fraud had severely damaged public trust in local governance and the merit-based recruitment system.

He likened corruption to ‘a cancer’, warning that it had devastated Thailand’s local government system and posed a serious threat to decentralisation, one of the constitution’s fundamental principles.

He said the committee had a rare opportunity to ‘clean house’ by identifying systemic weaknesses and preventing similar abuses from recurring.

He said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed him to pursue the matter rigorously.

While criminal investigations by the NACC and disciplinary proceedings by the Interior Ministry would continue independently, the committee would focus on closing loopholes, strengthening recruitment safeguards and addressing serious ethical violations by civil servants, said Mr Pakorn.

He said the panel had been given 30 days to complete its work, with an initial report to be submitted to the prime minister by July 15 and a second report by July 27.

The committee will work alongside various law enforcement and regulatory agencies to develop recommendations aimed at preventing similar scandals in the future.

Kiatnakin Phatra Securities (KKPS), the brokerage arm of Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group (KKP), expects the combined loan portfolio of Thailand’s three virtual banks to reach 200 billion baht in 5-6 years.

Given the Bank of Thailand’s requirement that each virtual bank increase its registered capital to 10 billion baht during the second phase of operations, from at least 5 billion baht on the day the business commences, bringing the combined registered capital to 30 billion baht, KKPS expects the three lenders to expand their total loan portfolio to around 200 billion baht within 5-6 years.

However, the profitability of virtual banks will depend largely on their business models, particularly their sources of income. Based on a study of 45 virtual banks worldwide, the brokerage found the average break-even period ranges from 1-9 years, said Sarachada Sornsong, an equity analyst at KKPS.

Globally, virtual banks typically begin by offering deposit products before expanding to other financial services, including lending, insurance and investment products. While lending is the primary driver of profitability, virtual banks generally require more time to build their loan portfolios and generate sustainable earnings.

During the first three years of operation, virtual banks in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, have generally focused on growing deposits rather than expanding lending.

KKPS said it will continue to monitor the lending strategies of the three Thai virtual banks, which are expected to focus on providing loans to unserved and underserved customers in line with central bank objectives. The brokerage expects the banks to begin with unsecured lending before gradually expanding into secured loans.

According to KKPS, the Thai banking industry had a total outstanding loan portfolio of 22.6 trillion baht as of February 2026. Commercial banks accounted for 66.6% of the total, while specialised financial institutions (SFIs) represented the remaining 33.4%.

The industry’s consumer finance portfolio, comprising credit cards, nanofinance, vehicle title loans, unsecured personal loans and digital personal loans, totalled 1.43 trillion baht. Unsecured and digital personal loans accounted for the largest share, representing 34% of the portfolio.

As of February 2026, total outstanding deposits in Thailand’s banking sector totalled 24.7 trillion baht. Commercial banks accounted for 71.7% of total deposits, while SFIs held 28.3%, according to KKPS.

“For the initial stage, we expect the lending services of local virtual banks to help narrow the gap between formal and informal lending. Informal lending currently accounts for around 16% of Thai GDP,” Ms Sarachada said.

Although virtual banks are expected to improve financial inclusion, KKPS said the success of the new banking model will depend largely on effective risk management, particularly debt collection. The firm believes the ability to manage credit quality and collect overdue debt will be among the biggest challenges facing virtual banks.

Thailand’s strong digital readiness is expected to support the expansion of virtual banking services. Ms Sarachada said the country has 92.2 million PromptPay registrations, while mobile banking and e-money penetration have reached 229% and 181%, respectively, based on the number of accounts, providing a solid foundation for virtual banks’ growth.

In June 2025, the central bank announced the three successful applicants to establish the country’s first batch of virtual banks. The winners were ACM Holding Co (TrueMoney), backed by the Charoen Pokphand Group; Krungthai Bank (KTB), in collaboration with Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) and PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR); and the SCB X consortium, which includes South Korea’s KakaoBank and WeBank.

The regulator originally required operations to commence in June this year, but later agreed to extend the deadline for banks to start operations by one year, until June 2027.

Clicx Bank Plc, a virtual bank jointly established by KTB, AIS and OR, is the first virtual bank applicant to obtain a licence to operate, and began operations in mid-June.

Thailand seeks to deepen defence, cybersecurity and academic cooperation with the United States while maintaining its neutral foreign policy and supporting a peaceful, rules-based Indo-Pacific, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters during an official visit to Hawaii on Monday.

Mr Sihasak was visiting the United States from July 5-7 at the invitation of Admiral Samuel J Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command. The trip aims to strengthen Thailand-US defence and security cooperation, exchange views on regional and global developments, and address emerging security challenges.

He said Thailand recognises the growing importance of national defence and military readiness as conflicts intensify worldwide, while stressing the need for all parties to work together to preserve peace and stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

Describing the region as the centre of the global economy, he said Asean, China and the United States all have vital roles in maintaining regional security.

“The United States plays an important role in maintaining the regional balance of power. It also recognises Thailand as its oldest security ally in Asia,” he said, noting that bilateral cooperation has evolved beyond its Cold War focus on containing communism.

Mr Sihasak reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to a rules-based international order and multilateralism, saying that Bangkok hopes strategic competition between the United States and China remains peaceful and stable, as relations between the two powers are critical to global and regional security.

“Our position is to uphold international law and the rules-based order. We will not take sides, but will strengthen Thailand and Asean so they can navigate major-power competition while maintaining balanced relations with both the United States and China,” he said.

Thailand and the United States are also expanding cybersecurity cooperation, particularly to combat online scam networks, he said.

While Thailand has no intention of threatening other countries, the military must continue modernising its capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty, he said.

The United States remains a key defence partner and a major source of military equipment, with procurement plans covering the army, navy and air force.

Mr Sihasak was also scheduled to meet the chairperson of the East-West Centre to explore new areas of Thailand-US cooperation in response to evolving global challenges.

He acknowledged that bilateral ties had cooled during periods of Thailand’s domestic political uncertainty. Still, he said the country’s improved political environment and more active international engagement provide an opportunity to reinvigorate the longstanding partnership.

Mr Sihasak said he hoped the visit would deepen the US understanding of Thailand’s regional role and strengthen bilateral ties despite differences on some issues.

Thailand’s collapsing birth rate is fast becoming an economic and political test, as Generation Z weighs the cost of children against rent, debt, insecure jobs and the small matter of staying sane.

The country recorded about 416,500 births last year, while deaths rose to more than 559,000, leaving Thailand’s population shrinking and policymakers short of easy answers. For a country that once worried about crowded classrooms, the new concern is what happens when there are not enough young people to fill them.

This shift helps explain a strange Bangkok contrast. Shopping malls remain packed, cafes are busy and delivery riders are everywhere, yet schools, hospitals and employers are already looking at a thinner selection of future workers. The baby pram has become less a family accessory and more an economic signal on wheels.

Among younger Thais, the decision is less about rejecting family life than refusing to enter it unprepared. Deloitte’s survey found that many Thai Generation Z and Millennial respondents have delayed major life decisions, including starting a family, because of financial pressure. Love may be free, but nappies, school fees and a condominium near the train line are very much not. Many of them find having cats and dogs is a lot easier than having kids.

Many young Thais are speaking a different language from their parents when it comes to work, money and family. Parenthood is no longer seen as the automatic next step after marriage, but as a major life project that requires savings, time, emotional energy and a very patient bank account.

For Generation Z, mental health, burnout and work life balance are not side issues. They are part of the calculation. Many want stable jobs, affordable homes, decent wages and enough personal freedom before having children. They are not rejecting babies so much as rejecting the pressure to raise them in uncertain conditions.

In short, they are not necessarily anti baby. They are anti chaos, anti debt and deeply wary of any life plan that begins with a housing loan, continues with childcare bills and ends with a toddler screaming at 3am while the parents try to answer work messages.

The economic timing could hardly be more awkward. The Bank of Thailand expects growth to remain modest, with expansion forecast at 2.3 per cent in 2026 and 1.8 per cent in 2027. A shrinking workforce would make that challenge harder, especially for an economy already facing pressure from ageing, household debt and uneven income growth.

Politicians are starting to understand that population policy is no longer a soft social issue. It is about tax revenue, welfare costs, labour supply and whether Thailand can remain competitive as its society gets older. The government’s Every Birth Matters campaign may sound reassuring, but slogans do not pay rent or cover childcare.

Thailand’s newest political battleground may therefore be the empty nursery. Its potential residents cannot vote, cry at press conferences or trend on social media, at least not yet. But their absence is already speaking loudly.

For Generation Z voters, the message is clear. If the state wants more babies, it must first make adult life feel affordable. That means better wages, more secure work, affordable homes, childcare support and policies that make raising children compatible with modern working life.

An interprovincial passenger bus on the Bangkok-Nan route was completely destroyed after catching fire in Bang Rakam district of Phitsanulok province early Wednesday but all 21 passengers on board successfully escaped unharmed.

The fire broke out at about 2.10am at a petrol station on Highway 117 inbound to Phitsanulok near the Yang Ped police booth.

Wang Intok tambon administration organisation dispatched water trucks to assist firefighters after the blaze engulfed the air-conditioned bus, operated by Nakhon Chair Air Co.

Firefighters spent about 30 minutes bringing the flames under control, but the bus was extensively damaged.

No injuries or fatalities were reported. Authorities confirmed that all 21 passengers aboard the bus were safely evacuated.

Police investigators and forensic officers were sent to examine the scene.

Initial findings were that the fire was caused by an electrical short beneath the driver’s seat, which triggered a burst that subsequently spread throughout the vehicle.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has resolved to indict a police colonel and five others over an alleged scheme to demand 6 million baht in exchange for securing bail for a British national detained on immigration charges.

The NACC said on Tuesday that the commission had found grounds to prosecute Pol Col Rames Kaewsoongnern, Witthaya Somsrisomsakul and four others for allegedly soliciting payment in return for influencing state officials to secure the release of British national Ritesh Patel.

According to the NACC, Mr Patel was arrested by Operational Unit 2 officers on June 27, 2022, and detained at the Phuket Immigration Office after allegedly entering Thailand using another person’s travel information. He later asked Thirawan Khieongam to present his passport, which had been cancelled by the embassy and his visa revoked.

Mr Patel was transferred the following day to the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, after which Ms Thirawan sought help from a third party to arrange his bail.

The investigation found the third party contacted Mr Witthaya on June 29.

Claiming to know Pol Col Rames, who could secure Mr Patel’s release, Mr Witthaya allegedly requested an initial payment of 1 million baht, which Ms Thirawan transferred to the bank account of Apirak Thiangtham.

Mr Witthaya later allegedly demanded a further 5 million baht, saying a total of 6 million baht was needed to coordinate the bail through Pol Col Rames and immigration officials.

Ms Thirawan transferred the money to the accounts of Nattanaree Boonma and Thipsuda Insongjai. But Mr Patel was never released.

The NACC said investigators later traced the funds to accounts belonging to Mr Witthaya, Pol Col Rames and the officer’s wife, Booraya Kaewsoongnern.

The commission found grounds to charge Mr Witthaya under Section 143 of the Criminal Code and the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption.

Thailand start the third and final week of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 in Osaka, Japan, today, with captain Pornpun Guedpard setting a bold target of securing two wins despite facing world-class opponents.

The Thais take on the United States in the opening match today before facing hosts Japan tomorrow, Brazil on July 12 and Turkey on July 13.

Head coach Kiatipong Ratchatakriengkrai said that this week is crucial for the team’s preparations for the Asian Championship, which will take place next month.

Setter and team captain Pornpun said her goal is to lead the team to victory in at least two matches, despite facing four top-ranked teams this week.

The Americans lead the 18-team standings on 20 points after seven wins, while Brazil are second with the same number of wins and points. Hosts Japan are fifth with six wins and 16 points, and Turkey are sixth with six wins and 15 points.

Thailand, with two wins, are in 14th place with nine points. The last-placed team will be relegated.

The team for this week includes 14 main players: Pornpun, Natthanicha Jaisaen, Piyanut Pannoy, Kalyarat Khamwong, Thatdao Nuekjang, Wimonrat Thanapan, Kaewkalaya Kamulthala, Pimpichaya Kokram, Papatchaya Phonthom, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Sasipaporn Janthawisut, Warisara Seetaloed, Nannaphat Moonjakham, and Jidapa Nahuanong, and four reserve players: Kanyarat Khunmuang, Supawadee Panwilai, Nirarach Srikuta and Serah Ankomah.

The government coalition has agreed to endorse Senate amendments to the peaceful society promotion bill, an amnesty measure aimed at easing politically motivated conflicts.

Chief government whip Korrawee Prissananantakul said on Tuesday that the coalition had resolved to accept the Senate’s revisions because they merely refined the wording without altering the bill’s core principles or legislative intent as previously approved by the House of Representatives.

Coalition parties will nevertheless discuss the matter internally once more before the House vote, although the government’s position remained unchanged.

Mr Korrawee said opposition representatives had informally suggested setting up a joint committee of both chambers to review the amended bill.

However, after considering the Senate’s revisions, the government whip concluded they did not affect the legislation’s essential provisions, as the amendments consisted only of additional wording, leaving no justification for a joint committee.

Manaporn Charoensri, deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, said the coalition members had been able to reach a common view after debating the Senate’s amendments concerning lese-majeste offences under Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

As the bill had been proposed by the cabinet, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul as its sponsor, the coalition agreed to proceed with the Senate’s version and vote on it when the House reconvenes today.

Although Pheu Thai held a slightly different view, Ms Manaporn said the party believed further delay would postpone relief for more than 6,000 people involved in politically related cases.

She added the bill had already undergone detailed scrutiny by a House special committee before being approved and subsequently reviewed by the Senate, making another round of joint deliberation unnecessary.

Ms Manaporn also said Pheu Thai had no objection to the Senate’s exclusion of Section 112 offences from the bill, despite earlier proposals to strengthen protection for offenders under the age of 18.

She said existing juvenile and family court mechanisms, together with other relevant laws, already provided safeguards for minors. Activist Jatuporn Prompan backed the legislation.

A 32-year-old American fitness influencer drowned on Tuesday evening after he jumped into a lake at a housing estate in Samut Prakan province, where police also found he had vandalised his rented luxury house.

The man reportedly became frenzied when he arrived in a vehicle in front of the estate in Bang Phli district, said Pol Col Veeraphong Roobsuay, deputy superintendent of investigation at the Bang Phli police station.

He was identified as Connor Michael Murphy, a Texas-born fitness influencer and bodybuilder. A YouTuber with more than 2.3 million followers, he was known for over-the-top stunts.

Murphy was also well known in the ‘looksmaxxing’ community, made up of young men who go to extreme lengths to transform their physical appearance. In Murphy’s case it was a jawline that attracted attention after it underwent a radical change over a short time. (Story continues below)

Disturbing behaviour

Witnesses, including a security guard and an employee at the housing estate, which was not named, recounted disturbing behaviour prior to the man’s frenzied dash into the water.

The guard told police that Murphy had returned to the neighbourhood in a hired vehicle. He reportedly tried to give the driver 1,000 baht, but the driver refused to accept the money after noticing his unusual behaviour.

The man then approached a resident’s passing car and knocked on the window, asking for a ride into the estate. The guard said he shouted to the driver not to pick him up.

The man then became agitated, the guard said. He shouted loudly, rolled around on the pavement and raised his hands as if praying.

When police officers arrived, Murphy suddenly ran and jumped into the lake, prompting police to request backup and rescue personnel as the situation escalated.

A video recorded by the estate employee showed the American behaving erratically for unknown reasons. Murphy continued swimming until he appeared exhausted before disappearing beneath the water.

As rescuers had not arrived, no one dared enter the lake to help because it was more than 10 metres deep. Rescue divers searched for about 30 minutes before recovering his body about 20 metres from the shore.

His body showed no signs of assault, police said, and was sent to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital for an autopsy.

Police investigating inside his rented house backing onto the lake found black and yellowish paint splashed throughout the property, including onto electrical appliances.

Murphy’s passing has attracted a lot of attention in the fitness and bodybuilding community, with many acknowledging his outsize personality and influence. On Instagram, a friend with the handle @jonskywalker wrote:

‘Regardless of what anyone online says or even the character your controversial content may have portrayed you to be, I will always remember you as the young kid who came up in this industry at the same time as me; thrown into a toxic industry and into the unforgiving spotlight of social media with no guidance and no mentor.’

The house had been rented out for 35,000 baht a month, with the tenants – Mr Murphy and his 22-year-old girlfriend – occupying the house for only three months, Ms View said.

She had carefully selected the tenants and never expected to find the property so badly damaged, with furniture and home decorations ruined.

Murphy’s girlfriend, identified only as Bee, said the damage inside the house occurred overnight while she was asleep in her room, while he remained awake.

Ms Bee said they had been together for about three years but had spent much of that time living apart due to relationship difficulties. They had resumed living together less than three months ago.

The deceased had appeared completely normal before the incident, his girlfriend said, and he had never shown similar behaviour or experienced any known mental health problems.

Regarding possible drug use, she said she had never seen him use drugs while they were living together.

Investigators later searched the deceased’s vehicle and found two unused syringes and several unidentified white pills inside the man’s waist bag.

Police said the initial examination found only abrasions sustained from him rolling on the road. Toxicology tests for drugs will be conducted.

Investigators were also gathering evidence and would notify the US Embassy in Thailand, Bang Phli police said.

Asking prices for land in Greater Bangkok have stagnated this year, with some sites facing discounts of up to 40% as buyers negotiate aggressively amid a sharp contraction in the condo market caused by economic weakness.

According to property consultancy Cushman and Wakefield Thailand, land prices in Greater Bangkok previously rose consistently every year, often by double digits, largely driven by condo developers.

“For decades, land prices in Bangkok’s central business district and surrounding areas were largely driven by fierce competition among property developers racing to acquire sites for condo projects,” said Warat Sirisukdanukul, senior manager for capital markets and investment.

Intense competition pushed land prices steadily higher, but the peak land price cycle effectively ended during the pandemic, and the market has since entered a more subdued phase, he noted.

Mr Warat cited land along Sukhumvit Road between the Bang Chak and Udom Suk skytrain stations as an example. Asking prices are at 900,000-1 million baht per square wah, well above current transaction levels.

Before the pandemic, land transactions in the area were typically concluded at 600,000-700,000 baht per sq w.

The last transactions priced at 700,000 baht per sq w were recorded in 2017-18, during the peak of Bangkok’s condo boom.

However, following the condo market downturn, developers have become far more cautious as inventory remains elevated amid weak purchasing power and high mortgage rejection rates. As a result, developers are making counter-offers of only 500,000-600,000 baht per sq w, representing discounts of up to 40% from asking prices, he said.

“Despite buyers seeking discounts of up to 40%, transactions have yet to materialise because landowners are not facing financial distress and have little incentive to sell at those prices,” said Mr Warat.

“They are unwilling to accept offers at those price levels.”

The widening gap between asking and selling prices in prime locations signals land values are no longer on an upward trajectory.

Landowners who need to sell are likely to accept prices well below their expectations, he noted.

Landowners should change their strategy, advised Mr Warat. Rather than selling in a buyer’s market, leasing land on a long-term basis could offer better returns, while allowing owners to retain their assets until market conditions improve, he noted.

“Potential tenants are mainly hotel developers, supported by continued growth in the tourism sector,” Mr Warat said.

“Investors are not only Thai, but also from China, Japan and Europe, either developing projects independently or through joint ventures.”

He said converting vacant land into long-term leasehold agreements of 10-30 years would allow landowners to avoid selling at discounted prices in a weak market while generating stable, recurring rental income without relinquishing ownership.

Long-term leasing can also significantly reduce land and building tax liability, as leased sites are no longer classified as idle land.

Mr Warat said the strategy offers a more effective way to preserve asset values until market conditions improve.