NACC apprehends woman at airport for paying money to Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) chief in exchange for inclusion on recruitment list for subdistrict officials
On 17 September 2025, the Bureau of International Affairs and Corruption Investigation and the Bureau of Investigation and Special Operations, Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), in cooperation with the Royal Thai Police, arrested Ms. Sumala Pinatae. The NACC had previously resolved to indict her for involvement in paying money to secure her inclusion on the list of candidates for recruitment as a subdistrict official at Dong Duan Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Nadun District, Maha Sarakham Province. She was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 4, No. J.46/2022, dated 26 October 2022.
While Ms. Sumala fled to the Republic of Korea, the NACC subsequently submitted a request for international cooperation in criminal matters through the Office of the Attorney General to the authorities of the Republic of Korea, and later confirmed that Ms. Sumala had been residing illegally in the Republic of Korea. Further investigation revealed her exact place of residence, which enabled coordination with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Bangkok to track, arrest, and arrange her return to Thailand.
Ms. Sumala was deported to Thailand and arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on 17 September 2025 at approximately 21:45 on an Air Busan flight. The joint arresting team apprehended her at the Immigration checkpoint (arrival zone) at Suvarnabhumi Airport, presented the arrest warrant, and informed her of the charges as well as her legal rights, in compliance with the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act B.E. 2565 (2022). She was then taken to Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station for the arrest record and subsequently transferred to the Office of Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 4, Khon Kaen Province, for further legal proceedings.
“A suspect or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final judgment of the Court.”
