Exam fraud file 'met NACC deadline', police chief says

Police submitted their investigation file on fraud in local government recruitment examinations to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) within the required 30-day deadline, says national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma.

His remarks on Saturday followed the release of three suspects on Wednesday after the NACC failed to complete its investigation and forward the case for prosecution before the maximum 84-day detention period expired.

Pol Gen Samran said the Crime Suppression Division had gathered evidence, prepared the preliminary case file and submitted it to the NACC within the prescribed timeframe.

He declined to comment on whether the evidence was sufficient for prosecution, saying the matter was now being handled by an NACC inquiry panel.

He said police had coordinated with the commission.

When asked if the suspects might flee and avoid prosecution, similar to a previous high-profile case involving an energy drink heir, Pol Gen Samran said the police would pursue them if arrest warrants were issued. “The police will do their best,” he said.

The suspects’ release has raised concerns about delays in handling the wider examination fraud investigation, which involves more than 6,000 accused persons.

At a parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday, NACC representatives said police had already used four of the seven detention periods permitted by law before transferring the case to the commission.

The NACC was therefore left with only three detention periods to complete its inquiry, which proved insufficient.

The commission acknowledged it had no measures to prevent the three released suspects from fleeing, although extradition would be pursued if they escaped abroad.

Arsphol Suntraiphop, chairman of the House committee on corruption prevention and suppression, said the NACC now expected to notify more than 6,000 accused people of the allegations by late November, postponed from late October after additional suspects emerged.

The commission has set up seven inquiry teams and questioned more than 1,000 people. Investigators have examined 44 of 110 suspected intermediary networks and identified 51 secondary intermediaries who allegedly received and passed on money.

Mr Arsphol said the committee wanted consistent legal action nationwide to prevent those involved from committing similar offences in future recruitment examinations.