DLA freezes local government appointments nationwide after Nonthaburi exam-fraud raid
Thailand’s Department of Local Administration has ordered provinces to delay local government appointments scheduled for July 1, 2026, after anti-corruption officials uncovered an alleged answer-sheet tampering network in Nonthaburi.
The Department of Local Administration has ordered a nationwide freeze on the appointment of successful local government recruitment candidates scheduled to report for duty on July 1, 2026, following a major corruption probe into alleged exam-rigging in Nonthaburi.
The Department of Local Administration, or DLA, issued an “Urgent Most” letter, No. MOI 0809.5/W35, dated June 24, instructing provincial governors to notify local administrative organisations under their supervision to delay the placement and appointment of candidates on the current eligibility list. The DLA’s official document lists the letter as concerning the postponement of appointments for successful candidates on July 1, 2026.
The order applies to appointments linked to local administrative organisations nationwide, including provincial, municipal and sub-district local bodies, as well as Pattaya City. Provincial governors were told to inform all relevant local agencies to suspend the appointment process and notify successful candidates not to travel to report for duty on July 1 until further notice.
Urgent order follows corruption raid
The freeze follows a joint investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Corruption Division, which searched premises in Bang Len subdistrict, Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi, after receiving complaints and evidence alleging that a group claimed it could help candidates pass local government recruitment exams in exchange for payment. The alleged fees reportedly ranged from 350,000 baht for general positions to 700,000–800,000 baht in highly competitive areas.
Investigators said the location was allegedly used to alter answer-sheet data to match the names of candidates who had paid the network. Officials seized computers, CPUs, digital storage devices, candidate lists and thousands of answer-sheet copies from several areas nationwide. About 3,000 answer-sheet copies were found and that initial evidence suggested around 2,000 had already been altered.
The raid took place at about 5.45pm on June 22 after a Nonthaburi Provincial Court search warrant was obtained. The search targeted Sam Mueang Charoen Rung Rueang Kit Co Ltd in Moo 9, Bang Len subdistrict, Bang Yai district, where more than 10 people were reportedly found, most of them state officials.
DLA says freeze needed to protect public confidence
The DLA said the appointment delay was necessary to ensure the recruitment process remained orderly, to address public concerns and to protect the interests of the civil service. The order specifically refers to candidates listed under an earlier DLA letter, No. MOI 0809.5/W27 dated June 16, whose appointments were due to take effect from July 1.
All provinces have been told to wait for further instructions from the DLA before proceeding with any placement or appointment of candidates from the affected list. No new reporting date has yet been announced.
Why local recruitment was centralised
The scandal has renewed attention on the system created under Order No. 8/2017 of the then National Council for Peace and Order, which was designed to reform local personnel administration. The order cited long-standing problems in local personnel management, including patronage in recruitment exams, promotions, transfers and alleged benefit-seeking.
Under the order, central committees for provincial administrative organisations, municipalities and sub-district administrative organisations were given authority to organise competitive exams for local government recruitment on behalf of local bodies, excluding the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The order also created a centralised role for the Central Committee for Local Employee Competitive Examinations, known in Thai as the CCLE, to conduct exams under common rules and standards.
The reform was intended to reduce nepotism, position-buying and inconsistent recruitment practices by replacing separate local exams with a single nationwide standard. The Nonthaburi case, however, has raised fresh questions over whether the centralised process itself was vulnerable to manipulation after the exam had already been conducted.
Authorities are expected to continue forensic checks on seized electronic data and answer-sheet records before the DLA decides whether the affected appointment list can be used, revised or cancelled.
