The confirmation came after a press briefing held at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Jan 6), where provincial officials addressed growing public concern over online claims of corruption involving entertainment venues, particularly in Patong.
Speaking at the press conference, Vice Governor Adul said the investigation would be handled in a thorough, fair and impartial manner once formal complaints or supporting information are received.
“There is currently insufficient clear evidence,” he said, “but the province is ready to investigate all matters within its authority to ensure transparency, fairness and public confidence in government operations.”
Mr Adul stressed that Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn has instructed all government officials to perform their duties honestly, transparently and strictly in accordance with the law, and to remain neutral during the current parliamentary election campaign period.
He also urged the media and the public to verify information carefully before sharing or publishing claims, warning that rumours and unverified reports could create misunderstanding or damage public trust.
Also present at the briefing was Ekkapop Buathuan, Senior Legal Officer at the Phuket Provincial Damrongtham Centre, who confirmed that the Citizen’s Complaint Centre is prepared to examine any formal complaints relating to the alleged bribery.
Mr Ekkapop explained that the Damrongtham Office would first verify the facts before forwarding any substantiated findings to senior officials and relevant agencies for legal action.
“Anyone with information or evidence is encouraged to submit it directly to the Phuket Provincial Damrongtham Centre,” he said.
The issue gained traction after a post was shared in the Facebook group ‘This needs to be exposed! Phuket’, questioning whether a group of individuals was demanding payments from entertainment venues in the province and calling on the Governor to investigate.
The post also referenced a previous case in Phuket involving criminal gangs allegedly extorting payments from businesses, claiming that similar language such as a “new item” had been used in past demands. The post urged authorities to act swiftly to protect entertainment venue operators from potential exploitation.
Addressing these claims, Sroi Phromthong, Vice President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association, said he was aware of the social media reports but confirmed that no complaints had been lodged by association members.
“To date, no such incidents have been found and no formal complaints have been received from operators in the area,” Mr Sroi said, adding that any verified findings would be immediately reported to the relevant authorities.
He reiterated that there is currently no confirmed information supporting the allegations.
The press conference also addressed concerns about potential involvement of officials or local administrators in election-related activities.
Vice Governor Adul reiterated that all government officials have been instructed to remain strictly neutral and not to support or favour any candidate.
Orapin Achivasuk, Director of the Phuket Provincial Election Commission Office, outlined the regulations governing candidate conduct, noting that while candidates may attend traditional or community events, they are prohibited from making donations or organising large-scale activities that could be considered campaigning.
She also emphasised that local government officials are barred from using their authority to advantage or disadvantage any candidate at any time.
In addition, officials responded to questions regarding an unrelated complaint involving lottery ticket vendors during 2024-2025, which remains under investigation by the Damrongtham Office.
Ms Orapin stated that all provincial officials are required to operate transparently and within their legal authority, and denied claims of bribe solicitation or protection payments linked to that case.
Concluding the briefing, Vice Governor Adul reiterated that the Phuket Provincial Office, headed by Governor Nirat, welcomes lawful and open investigations into any allegations of wrongdoing, stressing that maintaining public trust and accountability remains a priority.
He again called on the public to exercise caution when engaging with unverified information online and to rely on confirmed facts rather than rumours or sensational claims.