Obec chief Chinnapat to face exam fraud probe this week
On Friday, the grave disciplinary committee will summon Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat to explain charges of alleged negligence of duty in the assistant teacher exam fraud case.
Following the committee’s meeting yesterday, the chairman, Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec) chief Suchat Jeerawuth, said the probe should be concluded in 60 days.
The maximum punishment could be dismissal, depending on damage to the civil service in terms of money and reputation.
The committee has asked for evidence and testimony from Education Ministry permanent-secretary Panita Kambhu na Ayutthaya’s fact-finding panel that had suggested Chinnapat face the disciplinary probe.
Suchat said the probe should be completed quickly because Panita’s fact-finding committee had interviewed many witnesses and now only needed the accused person’s testimony and some additional interviews.
Suchat affirmed his committee had probed Chinnapat for violation of Civil Service Act articles 82 and 85 about negligence of duty causing severe damage to the civil service. He said if they found additional wrongdoings they would report to the Education Minister for further instruction.
Panita’s fact-finding committee suggested three other officials also face disciplinary probes. Investigation is still in the fact-finding process but if grounds of wrongdoing are uncovered, the three could also be probed by this committee or a newly-assigned one.
The three officials are Chinnapat's deputy Anan Ra-ngabtook, former Obec assistant chief Suthep Chittayawong, and Krai Kesathan, former director of Obec's Bureau of Personnel Administration Development Management and Legal Affairs.
Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Zone 7’s sub-committee probing the assistant teacher exam fraud has uncovered new information that 10 assistant teachers had the same answers to test questions, suggesting they cheated in the test. If proven, they could face dismissal on May 30.
Out of the 344 assistant teachers suggested by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to be dismissed due to alleged exam cheating, Nakhon Ratchasima had 48, ten of whom were under the Primary Educational Zone 7.
