NACC Cracks Down on Truck Bribery Scandal Recommends Measures to Reduce Corruption Risk
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Division under the Royal Thai Police (RTP) and related agencies, has dismantled a “network of state officials involved in soliciting bribes from truck operators.” A total of 11 targeted locations across the country were raided, leading to arrests and charges issued under the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 3, with warrants executed in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chaiyaphum, Phetchabun, Nakhon Pathom, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. Civilians involved were apprehended, with investigations continuing to track down the masterminds. The NACC also recommended measures to reduce the risk of truck bribery corruption, stressing that relevant agencies should implement these measures effectively. If any state officials are found to be involved, the NACC will take stringent action, with potential jail time and dismissal from public service.
Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, NACC Secretary-General and Spokesperson, revealed that the crackdown followed a complaint lodged by truck operators in 2023, who reported that officials from the Department of Highways had been demanding bribes from crane operators and overweight truck owners. The NACC’s investigation uncovered critical information that implicated officials from the Department of Highways' Vehicle Weight Control Office (VWCO), responsible for overseeing and enforcing weight limits on highways. Instead of enforcing the law, the officials, led by a task force head, were extorting monthly bribes from truck operators in exchange for not prosecuting them for weight violations. A civilian named “Thongchai” was in charge of negotiating and collecting bribes on behalf of the officials. Operators who refused to comply were heavily penalized, which severely impacted their businesses. This extortion scheme had reportedly been ongoing for several years, with over 30 victims between 2019 and 2020, resulting in bribes amounting to more than 120 million baht, or approximately 1.4 million baht per month. The funds were transferred to a mule account belonging to Mr. Prathin before being funneled to the leading officials in the bribery ring. This led to their eventual arrest.
In response to the ongoing issue of overweight truck corruption, the NACC has continuously pushed forward preventive measures. On October 6th, 2021, the NACC submitted anti-corruption measures concerning overweight trucks to the Cabinet, which were acknowledged on December 28, 2021. The measures, led by the Ministry of Transport, were to be implemented promptly and included six key points:
(1) enforce laws to prosecute operators who overload trucks under Section 84 of the Penal Code;
(2) consider signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate road oversight within each jurisdiction;
(3) hold meetings among relevant agencies to address law enforcement challenges;
(4) implement measures requiring trucks to carry certified weight tickets from the source, with scales verified by the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures under the Ministry of Commerce, ensuring compliance with legal weight limits, and displaying the actual load on the truck during operation. A channel for public reporting of violations would also be established;
(5) promote the use of automatic technology, such as High-speed Weigh-in-Motion (HSWIM) systems and Bridge Weigh-in-Motion (BWIM) technology, to monitor truck weight in real-time and reduce direct interactions between officials and truck operators;
(6) oversee and audit officials working in departments prone to corruption to ensure accountability.
Follow-up on the implementation of these measures revealed that the Department of Highways had signed an MoU with related agencies to strictly manage violations by truck operators. Automatic technology systems, including HSWIM and BWIM, have already been implemented by the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads. However, the scales used have yet to receive certification from the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures, preventing legal enforcement. The Ministry of Transport has outlined plans to review the weight records from all types of WIM systems, along with CCTV footage, to effectively detect violations. Additionally, all agencies involved in tackling truck bribery corruption should adopt digital technology for monitoring and inspections. This will not only enhance accuracy but also reduce discretionary power among state officials, effectively closing the loopholes that facilitate corruption.
The NACC, following the arrests of the truck bribery network, will expedite coordination with related agencies to push for the implementation of anti-corruption measures, ensuring that the Department of Highways, among others, enforces these recommendations rigorously. The NACC will also propose stricter oversight and monitoring measures to prevent future corruption among state officials.
