Teacher cheaters paid B100m, DSI says

The gang behind the assistant teacher recruitment exam scandal probably received more than 100 million baht in bribes, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday.

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Thanin Prempree, director of the DSI's Corruption Suppression and Prevention Centre, right, examines evidence during his agency’s probe of the assistant teacher recruitment exam scandal. Post Today photo

Exam cheats paid B100m, DSI uncovers

King-oua Laohong

The gang behind the assistant teacher recruitment exam scandal probably received more than 100 million baht in bribes, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said yesterday.

The estimate is based on information suggesting that about 200 people cheated in the exam, which was held on Jan 13, Thanin Prempree, director of the DSI's Corruption Suppression and Prevention Centre, said.

The cheats each paid 400,000 baht, and 600,000 baht for training on how to use a cellphone-based device that was concealed on applicants taking the exam. It was used to send and receive the answers, he said.

Mr Thanin said the money was paid directly to Prajak Konglaem, chief of civil works at the Wangtakae tambon administration organisation in Chaiyaphum's Nong Bua Rawe district.

Mr Prajak conducted the training session on Jan 12 at the Chuda Resort and Hotel in Khon Kaen.

Mr Prajak yesterday met Mr Thanin to acknowledge charges of violating Section 143 of the Criminal Code by asking the exam applicants to make payments to him, in return for which he would encourage state officials to help them cheat in the exam.

Mr Prajak denied any wrongdoing and reserved his right to testify only in court while Mr Thanin insisted the DSI had obtained solid evidence to prove the suspect served as a go-between who contacted potential exam cheaters and state officials involved in the exam paper preparation.

The DSI had secured eyewitnesses who confirmed Mr Prajak led the training for the suspected exam cheaters on how to use the communication devices to cheat in the exam, said Mr Thanin.

Mr Thanin also said eyewitnesses confirmed that Mr Prajak was seen with Amporn Tawankun, director of Sema Uppatham School in Nakhon Ratchasima, at the resort.

The DSI had charged Mr Amporn previously in connection with the leak of the exam papers' answers.

suppression – stopping an activity from happening, in this case, criminal activity  การปราบปราม
prevention – preventing something bad from happening การป้องกันภ้ย
evidence – facts statements or objects that help to prove whether or not someone has committed a crime หลักฐาน
probe – an investigation การสอบสวน
assistant – a person who helps or supports somebody, usually in their job ผู้ช่วย
recruitment – the process of finding people to work for a company or become a new member of an organisation การสรรหาใหม่
scandal – a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks people เรื่องอื้อฉาว
cheat – a person who cheats (acts in a dishonest way in order to gain an advantage) คนโกง, คนหลอกลวง
(DSI) Department of Special Investigation – a police department investigating serious crimes involving influential people, organised crime, or crimes using highly sophisticated technology กรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ
uncover – to discover something secret or hidden ค้นพบข้อเท็จจริง
bribe – money or a present given to someone so that they will help you doing something dishonest or illegal สินบน
estimate – an amount that you guess or calculate using the information available ประมาณการ
device – a machine or piece of equipment that does a particular job อุปกรณ์ เครื่องมือ เครื่องจักร
conceal – to hide something  ซุก ซ่อน
applicant – someone who applies for something, such as a job or a loan of money ผู้สมัคร,ผู้แจ้งความจำนง,ผู้ขอ
civil works – the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings วิศวกรรมโยธา
conduct – to do something in an organised way; to carry out — ลงมือทำ, ดำเนิน, ปฏิบัติ
session – a formal meeting การชุมนุม ประชุม
acknowledge – to let someone know you have received something or the you understand what it is  รับทราบ
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อกล่าวหา
violate – to do something that is against a law, rule or agreement ฝ่าฝืน, ละเมิด
Criminal Code – the systems of laws dealing with crimes and their punishment ประมวลกฎหมายอาญา
encourage – to cause someone to want to do something กระตุ้น ให้การสนับสนุน
state – government รัฐบาล
deny – to say that something is not true ปฏิเสธ
reserve your right – to use your power or rights that you have under the law สงวนสิทธิ, ใช้สิทธิ
testify – to make a statement about something that you saw, know, or experienced, usually in a court of law ให้การเป็นพยาน
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
obtain – to get something that you want or need, especially by going through a process that is difficult ได้มา, ได้รับ
solid – completely good, with no mistakes or bad parts ซึ่งไว้ใจได้, มีเหตุผล
prove – to use facts, evidence, etc. to show that something is true พิสูจน์
suspect – a person who is thought to have committed a crime ผู้ต้องสงสัย
contact – to communicate with someone  ติดต่อ
potential – possible in the future ที่อาจเป็นไปได้
secure – to get or achieve something ได้มา
eyewitness – someone who sees something happen พยานในเหตุการณ์
suspected – thought to have done something wrong เป็นที่สงสัย
leak – telling private or secret information to journalists or to the public การเปิดเผยความลับ