A shocking scandal has emerged in Thailand, exposing rampant corruption in the country. South China Morning PostA government official from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department in Ang Thong province reportedly received salary and bonuses for 10 years without showing up for work. The reason? He was so busy singing at a nightclub that he didn’t care about his day job. The official was constantly tired from working at night, causing him to miss work during the day.
Despite being absent for a decade, the government official remarkably continued to receive his salary and bonuses without interruption, avoiding dismissal or punishment. To maintain the appearance of accountability, he was periodically summoned to the office to be reprimanded or to sign documents on the mayor’s orders – a strategic move seemingly designed to avoid scrutiny.
This shocking case of misconduct only came to light thanks to a Facebook page called Watchdog, which is dedicated to exposing government wrongdoings. The page has 1.1 million followers, highlighting the widespread concern over corruption in Thailand. According to Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Thailand scored 35 out of 100, ranking 108th out of 180 countries. A staggering 88% of Thai respondents consider government corruption a significant problem, with 24% of them admitting to paying bribes in the past year.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many questioning the government’s lack of accountability. Under Thai law, corrupt officials can face one to 10 years in prison and a fine of 2,000 to 20,000 baht ($60 to $600). The local government has maintained silence about the case, and it is unclear if and how the official will be punished.
Notably, this is not an isolated incident. Another case involves a family in Nakhon Ratchasima province who endured six years of bullying by their neighbour – the son of a government official and a high-ranking police officer. Despite reporting the abuse, the family faced legal threats, and the perpetrator remains uncharged.
Thailand’s public sector employs about 1.68 million workers, including 421,000 civil servants. These jobs, once coveted for their financial security and benefits, are now losing appeal among young people, who are increasingly opting for riskier careers to pursue their passions.