Mr Rungruang, who served as the Phuket Provincial Office’s Chief Administration Officer, was taken into custody by officers from the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Suppression Division (ACMSD) late Friday night (June 26) under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 9.
At 2:40am on Saturday (June 27), Mr Rungruang was escorted from Phuket Provincial Police Station after spending the night in custody.
He was first taken to a second-floor conference room at the station before being placed in a police transport van with yellow registration plates. His wife accompanied him in the vehicle, which was escorted by a Highway Police patrol car.
The convoy then travelled to Phuket City Police Station, where officers recorded the transfer in the station’s daily log before Mr Rungruang was transported to Songkhla Province to be handed over to the investigating officer responsible for the case for further legal proceedings.
Of note, Phuket Provincial Police, Phuket City Police and the CIB have all not yet publicly reported Mr Rungruang’s arrest, yet photos taken by police officers have been released to the national media.
The arrest came on the same day Mr Rungruang resumed duties as Phuket Palad after completing a 30-day transfer to the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) in Bangkok while an unrelated investigation ‒ into the extortion of Patong nightlife venues by corrupt officials ‒ was conducted.
On Saturday (June 27), DOPA issued Order No. 1894/2569 suspending Mr Rungruang from duty pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
The order, signed by Deputy Director-General and Acting Director-General Wit Sarinukool on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, states that Mr Rungruang, whose substantive position is Phuket Provincial Permanent Secretary, has been charged with accepting or agreeing to accept bribes or other benefits in return for unlawfully influencing government officials.
For some reason, DOPA Director-General Narucha Khosasilvilai, himself facing a corruption investigation, did not sign the order.
According to the order, his continued service could undermine public confidence in the Ministry of Interior and damage the reputation of the government, making it appropriate to suspend him while legal proceedings continue. The ministry noted that the case is unlikely to conclude quickly.
Mr Rungruang has the right to appeal the suspension within 30 days.
According to investigators, the case stems from allegations that Mr Rungruang promised to help applicants secure positions in local government by arranging illicit payments to officials connected with recruitment examinations.
Police allege three complainants, who had known Mr Rungruang since 2020 when he served as district chief of Sungai Padi District in Narathiwat, approached him after failing local government entrance examinations twice.
The complainants told investigators that they met Mr Rungruang in Songkhla in March this year, where he allegedly claimed he could ensure they passed the examinations in exchange for payments.
Police say each applicant paid B300,000, for a total of B900,000. When none of the applicants passed the examinations, they filed complaints with anti-corruption investigators.
Commander of the Anti-Corruption Division Pol Maj Gen Prasong Chalermphan said Mr Rungruang is accused of demanding, accepting or agreeing to accept benefits in exchange for unlawfully influencing state officials, offences carrying prison terms of more than three years.
Although prosecutors opposed bail, citing concerns about interference with witnesses, the court granted Mr Rungruang temporary release on a B100,000 surety under strict conditions. The court warned that his bail would be revoked if he attempted to interfere with witnesses or evidence.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Mr Rungruang following his involvement in another high-profile controversy.
He was one of five senior Interior Ministry officials transferred to Bangkok on May 25 while authorities investigated allegations that local officials had solicited payments from entertainment venue operators in Patong.
The transfer followed the emergence of a leaked LINE chat message reading ’Help Namngern’ (’Help the Blue’), which Mr Rungruang later publicly disclosed as part of complaints against senior officials.
His temporary reassignment expired on Friday, allowing him to return to his duties in Phuket before his arrest later the same day.
Two district chiefs who had been transferred alongside Mr Rungruang were also allowed to resume their duties after investigators found no grounds for serious disciplinary action.
The corruption investigation into the recruitment examination bribery scheme remains ongoing.