Phuket Administrative Chief Arrested Over Alleged Bribery Scheme Linked to Recruitment Exams

Thailand's Anti-Corruption Police have arrested Phuket Provincial Administrative Chief Officer Rungreung Thimabutr in connection with an alleged bribery scheme involving local government recruitment examinations.

The arrest took place on June 26 under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 9.

Investigators allege that Rungreung acted as a middleman by requesting 300,000 baht from each of three members of the Volunteer Defense Corps (Or Sor), for a total of 900,000 baht. According to police, the money was allegedly intended to be passed to officials within the Department of Local Administration in exchange for favorable results in recruitment examinations.

Authorities said the alleged offenses took place in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province.

The arrest came just one day after the Department of Provincial Administration reinstated Rungreung to his position in Phuket. He had spent approximately one month assigned to the department's headquarters while an internal investigation into his conduct was carried out. Officials announced that the inquiry had been completed, allowing him to resume his duties in the province.

Rungreung had previously attracted public attention in another case involving allegations that he assisted a suspected major drug trafficker known publicly as "Nam Ngern." That controversy resulted in his temporary transfer from Phuket pending the administrative review.

Anti-corruption investigators emphasized that the current case remains under investigation. As with all criminal proceedings, Rungreung is presumed innocent unless and until a court finds him guilty.