Two police officials arrested over 'government exam scam that duped 701 job seekers'
Two senior police officials were arrested over an alleged government exam scam that duped 701 job seekers.
Itthiphon, 49, and Anurak, 46, both senior figures at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), allegedly promised to give job hunters government positions in exchange for large payments.
Police said the pair worked with Pichit Thangphrom, a municipal official in Phetchabun province who oversaw the civil service tests, to swindle applicants out of around 55 million baht.
Both men were arrested in raids at DSI offices in Chonburi and Bangkok on September 11, police said.
They were wanted on warrants issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on charges of 'soliciting or accepting benefits in exchange for influencing officials to help people secure government positions'.
They have denied the charges.
Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, who led the raids, said: ‘The first location we searched was the suspect's house in Soi Thoet Rachan 27, where documents were discovered revealing that he owned another property.
‘This led to a search of another residence in the Don Mueang area, valued at approximately 20 million baht.'
The arrests came after investigators detained Prawit Jaruratkul, 62, on August 27 over allegations he demanded 650,000 baht from a victim in exchange for securing a civil service position.
Officers said Prawit's subsequent questioning led them to the two DSI officials.
Itthiphon allegedly contacted Prawit, claiming he had secured job positions from Pichit who handles the civil service exam.
He then introduced Prawit to Pichit's associate, Anurak, and reportedly helped arrange the handover of money and candidate lists.
By November, the group had allegedly collected deposits from 701 job seekers, with the two DSI officials allegedly receiving more than 55 million baht.
Police then gathered evidence and secured arrest warrants from the court.
Local media reported that Itthiphon and Anurak were released on bail on September 12, using their official positions as bail guarantees. After a review, officers deemed they had stable and permanent employment, along with fixed places of residence.
