5,814 ‘irregular’ results flagged in exam scandal
The Department of Local Administration (DLA) has submitted a list of 5,814 candidates whose examination scores were found to be irregular to the Central Examination Committee, which will consider whether to revoke their appointments.
The Department of Local Administration (DLA) has submitted a list of 5,814 candidates whose examination scores were found to be irregular to the Central Examination Committee, which will consider whether to revoke their appointments.
A decision is expected at a meeting next Thursday as authorities widen their investigation into alleged fraud in last year’s local government recruitment examinations.
Speaking after a meeting of the Central Committee for Local Government Personnel Examinations at the Department of Local Administration on Wednesday, Interior Minister permanent secretary Unsit Sampuntharat said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed all agencies to pursue the investigation to its conclusion and ensure the public received a clear explanation.
Mr Anutin is also the interior minister.
The committee reviewed the findings of a comparison between raw examination scores and the officially announced results conducted by the DLA in cooperation with the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Special Investigation. The review identified 5,814 candidates with irregular scores.
Mr Unsit said the candidates were classified into three groups. More than 3,000 recorded significant increases in their scores, while over 1,000 others, who had already achieved high marks, were found to have received unusually large score increases. A further 400 had discrepancies of only one mark, although their answer sheets were 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 exam scandal first came to light following the arrest of 11 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 selected exam candidates who had passed the nationwide recruitment process.
About 400,000 people sat the exams that the DLA organised late last year to fill 6,700 positions. Hundreds of candidates reportedly paid bribes ranging from 350,000 to 800,000 baht, depending on the desired positions, to ensure they got a passing grade.
Three local government personnel commissions, representing provincial, municipal and tambon administrative organisations, on July 23 will consider the evidence before making a decision, Mr Unsit said, adding that any final revocation orders would be issued by the heads of the local authorities that appointed the candidates.
He said authorities must first recount all examination scores before reserve candidates could be promoted to fill any vacancies because 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 been appointed would not be affected immediately, but any vacancies created by revoked appointments would be filled according to the revised merit list.
Asked whether the salaries paid to officials whose appointments were revoked would be reclaimed, Mr Unsit said the DLA would consider the matter separately.
He went on to say investigators had not ruled out expanding the inquiry to previous recruitment exercises if evidence linked additional individuals or agencies to the alleged fraud.
Three people considered key suspects have been arrested in connection with the examination fraud case.
They face multiple charges, including criminal association, conspiracy, forging official documents, concealing or destroying official documents, dishonestly entering false computer data into a computer system and unlawfully disclosing official secrets.
Unsit: Evidence to be considered on July 23