The expanded investigation was announced today (June 30) at a joint press conference in Bangkok attended by senior officials from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
Officials stressed that the case stemmed directly from complaints received during Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit to Phuket in May, when local business operators alleged that influential figures had demanded bribes and abused their positions.
Speaking at the press conference, CIB Deputy Commander Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew said the investigation was launched after the Prime Minister ordered anti-corruption agencies to examine allegations made by business owners during his visit to the island.
“The first phase of our investigation focused on the administrative sector, where we found numerous instances of corruption. Today’s operation targets officials genuinely involved in corruption. This is only part of the investigation, with further cases and additional suspects still under investigation.”
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat confirmed that today’s operation centred on the arrest of former Phuket Provincial Palad Rungruang.
ALLEGED B1 MILLION DEMAND
According to Pol Col Supoj Phumyaem, Superintendent of Division 5 of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the charges relate to allegations that Rungruang demanded B1 million from a landowner seeking assistance in restoring land rights in Cherng Talay.
Police said the complainant previously held SorKor 1 land rights that were revoked in 1980 before later seeking reinstatement through the Damrongtham complaints centre.
Investigators allege that in March this year the complainant was contacted by a person claiming to be a Phuket provincial official, who arranged a meeting with Rungruang, then serving as Phuket Provincial Palad and a member of a provincial land committee.
During that meeting, investigators allege, Rungruang demanded B1 million in exchange for helping resolve the land dispute.
According to police, when the complainant said cash was unavailable, arrangements were made for the money to be transferred electronically the following day.
It was not explained why the 46-year delay in the claimant finally wanting to take action to claim the land.
It was also not explained how Mr Rungruang came to know about the land ownership dilemma that started decades before he arrived on the island.
MONEY TRAIL
Investigators said the bank account used for that transfer “unexpectedly” linked the Phuket case to a completely separate investigation into bribery involving local government recruitment examinations.
Pol Col Thanapong Thabklam, Superintendent of Division 6 of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, said financial investigators traced transactions connected to the former Phuket official, leading to an arrest warrant issued by the Region 9 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
The investigation found that the account receiving money from the Phuket complainant was connected to an alleged victim in a separate case involving promises to secure government employment through corrupt recruitment examinations.
According to investigators, money transferred by the Phuket land complainant was subsequently passed to “victims” involved in the recruitment exam case.
Officials said investigators also identified subsequent overpayments and refunds, including one refund of B100,000 that was allegedly transferred to a close associate of Mr Rungruang.
That financial trail became a key piece of evidence linking the two otherwise unrelated investigations.
DSI Justice Administration Division Director Angsuketi Wisutthiwattanasak said the DSI became involved after the Ministry of Interior requested assistance investigating allegations of influential figures extorting business operators in Phuket.
“Our investigation discovered that a former Phuket Provincial Palad had extorted money from a businessman and instructed him to transfer funds to a victim in another case involving recruitment exam bribery," he said.
"Further investigation found that B100,000 was later refunded to a close associate of the former official. This established a clear financial connection, which was passed to the Anti-Corruption Bureau."
Officials repeatedly stressed that the Phuket land case and the recruitment exam bribery investigation are separate criminal cases connected only through the financial transactions uncovered during the investigation.
PARALLEL INVESTIGATIONS
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat explained that investigators are pursuing two parallel criminal cases.
One concerns three individuals accused of acting as intermediaries in soliciting bribes, while the second relates directly to allegations that Mr Rungruang abused his official position by demanding money.
Police said Rungruang faces charges under Sections 149 and 157 of the Criminal Code, relating to public officials demanding or accepting benefits and misconduct in office.
Officials indicated that additional investigations remain underway and that further arrests are possible.
For reasons unexplained, the other two “suspects” in the case were not named.
‘DISCIPLINARY ACTION’
DOPA Deputy Director-General Wirun Sittiwong, present because DOPA Director-General Narucha Khosasilvilai was not present for a major press conference about a corruption case that he is deeply involved with ‒ confirmed that the ministry has begun “disciplinary proceedings” following the arrest.
He said the department would apply the same procedures used in previous major corruption cases involving senior provincial officials.
A disciplinary investigation committee has been established to examine allegations of serious misconduct, with the disciplinary process proceeding alongside the criminal investigation.
FOLLOWING ORDERS
PACC Secretary-General Phumwisarn Kasemsuk insisted that the multi-agency investigation was the result of PM Anutin’s order during his visit to Phuket on May 10.
The joint operation demonstrated close cooperation between anti-corruption agencies, the Ministry of Interior, DSI and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to ensure no legal loopholes remained, Mr Phumwisarn said.
He also sought to dispel speculation that the arrest was intended to interfere with the separate recruitment exam bribery investigation.
"The two cases are almost entirely unrelated," he said.
"They are connected only through the financial trail uncovered during the investigation. Both cases will proceed independently and transparently, and everyone involved will be treated fairly under the law."
Officials said investigations into additional corruption allegations arising from complaints made during the Prime Minister’s Phuket visit are continuing.
KEY QUESTIONS
During questions from reporters following the formal briefing, investigators and senior officials provided further details on the case while repeatedly stressing that the criminal investigation is ongoing.
Asked about the B100,000 that investigators allege was transferred back during the financial transactions, Pol Col Thanapong Thabklam, Superintendent of Division 6, the CIB’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, said former Phuket Provincial Palad Rungruang Thimabut had denied all allegations and declined to explain the payment.
However, investigators said a member of the Volunteer Defence Corps (OrSor) later came forward to provide evidence, telling police he believed the request for money because Mr Rungruang had previously been his superior.
The witness decided to cooperate with investigators because money had passed through his account and he feared he could otherwise face criminal liability.
Of note, however, the victim is a member of the OrSor. The OrSor operates directly under DOPA, and hence Mr Narucha and under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Interior, which for years has been headed by PM Anutin.
The key speakers today avoided any mention of this chain of command. They also avoided any mention of the formal corruption complaint filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission against DOPA Chief Mr Narucha for the ‘Helping the Blue’ political endorsement that is now under investigation for alleged election interference.
Responding to questions about whether the alleged B1 million payment from the Phuket land case had effectively been used to settle obligations arising from the separate recruitment examination bribery case, CIB Deputy Commander Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew said the B1 million was the subject of the alleged bribery offence in the Phuket land case, while the arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 9 related to the intermediary involved in the recruitment examination investigation.
He added that additional charges had since been filed against Mr Rungruang, who continued to deny all allegations.
However, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat made no mention of any officials from the Land Department being involved in an illegal land transfer case.
Investigators were also asked how the alleged middlemen became involved in the money transfers, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat continued.
PACC Secretary-General Mr Phumwisarn further alleged that Mr Rungruang, as an experienced government official, avoided having the money transferred directly into his own account.
Instead, investigators allege, victims were instructed to transfer money into accounts belonging to people close to him, including a former secretary, Mr Phumwisarn said.
However, police said the B100,000 refund was ultimately traced to a bank account and ATM card controlled by Rungruang himself, he added.
"We have clear witness testimony that he instructed his secretary to withdraw the cash," Mr Phumwisarn said.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat even further alleged that the B1 million transferred by the Phuket businessman was later distributed to three complainants connected to the local government recruitment examination case.
Asked whether those three individuals could themselves face prosecution, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said corruption investigations allow participants to become witnesses if they cooperate with authorities.
"If those involved agree to become complainants and provide factual information to investigators, we will protect them as witnesses," he said.
However, that graciousness so far has not been extended to Mr Rungruang for his role in exposing rampant corruption in Phuket.
Questioned about whether additional suspects had been identified outside Phuket, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat assured that investigators had gathered evidence from multiple sources and that “there will definitely be more law enforcement actions in many more cases”.
He also dismissed suggestions that the Phuket land complaint involved the separate six-rai Bang Tao beachfront land dispute, saying the two matters were unrelated.
Providing further background to the Phuket land complaint, Mr Phumwisarn said the disputed land rights had originally been revoked by Phuket provincial officials more than 40 years ago.
The complainant later believed amendments to relevant regulations allowed those rights to be restored, after which someone claiming to represent the Palad’s office arranged a meeting that ultimately led to the alleged demand for B1 million.
Mr Phumwisarn declined to provide further details because the matter remains under investigation.
During questioning about claims that Mr Rungruang had told people he had connections with senior officials capable of influencing local government recruitment examinations, a DSI representative responded that there was no evidence to support such claims.
"If it were true, they would have passed the examination. None of the three passed. It is likely to have been simply a false claim," said Angsuketi Wisutthiwattanasak, Director of the DSI’s Justice Administration Division.
Asked whether investigators had found evidence that Mr Rungruang had previously helped anyone secure government employment through recruitment examinations, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said investigators had not yet established that.
"We only know that the complainants were acquaintances," he said.
"We are examining computers and documents seized during the operation to establish the facts."
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat also addressed questions about the relationship between Rungruang and several former subordinates involved in the investigation.
He described the case as one in which junior officers had sought assistance from a senior official, alleging that money obtained from the Phuket land case was transferred through a subordinate, ultimately forcing that individual to report the matter to police in order to establish their innocence.
Investigators said they had identified one principal complainant, three people involved in transferring funds and five additional application forms recovered during searches.
When asked about separate allegations that Mr Rungruang had previously mistreated Volunteer Defence Corps personnel, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat declined to comment, saying only that the matter formed part of the investigation file.
Officials also rejected suggestions that the timing of Mr Rungruang’s arrest was connected to local politics in Phuket.
DOPA Deputy Director-General Mr Wirun explained that Mr Rungruang had previously been transferred to an inactive post while officials conducted a preliminary 30-day fact-finding investigation.
After that process concluded, he was returned in accordance with civil service regulations.
Mr Wirun said officials had already gathered evidence they believed justified launching a serious disciplinary investigation before the criminal case overtook the administrative proceedings.
"As the criminal case became clearer, a committee investigating serious disciplinary violations was established and he was suspended from duty pending the outcome," Wirun said.
PACC Secretary-General Mr Phumwisarn also rejected suggestions of political interference.
"I would like to confirm that the work carried out jointly by the Central Investigation Bureau, the PACC, the DSI and the Anti-Money Laundering Office has been 100% politically neutral," he said.
"There is no political involvement. We are guided only by accuracy and the facts."
Closing the press conference, Phumwisarn said the arrest marked "only the beginning" of wider anti-corruption efforts in Phuket.
He said authorities would continue investigating allegations involving illegal entertainment venues, hotels, encroachment on public land and nominee businesses.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat urged business owners who had allegedly been asked to pay bribes, as well as anyone connected with the recruitment examination scheme, to come forward.
"I assure you that your information will be kept confidential and protected," he said.
He concluded by emphasising that Rungruang remains presumed innocent under Thai law.
"The former Phuket Provincial Secretary is still considered innocent under the law. He has the right to fight his case through the judicial process to the end. Today’s press conference was only to clarify the facts and ensure transparency by the authorities."