Teacher in Chiang Rai Lives in Fear After Exposing Decade-Long Corruption

CHIANG RAI — A veteran Thai teacher who spent nearly ten years fighting school lunch corruption has been forced to flee her home region. Facing heavy intimidation, salary cuts, and property damage, she is now asking national anti-corruption authorities for an emergency transfer to protect her life and family.

Mrs. Kalong Jobsri, a 51-year-old senior professional teacher, took her case directly to the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in Chiang Rai. She submitted an urgent petition addressed to the Secretary-General of the NACC, requesting immediate protection under witness safety laws.

For years, Mrs. Kalong has stood at the center of a massive legal battle involving eight school officials. With the investigation finally nearing its conclusion, she says the threats against her have reached a dangerous peak.

A Decade of Fighting for Schoolchildren

According to MRG Online, the controversy started in mid-2018. While working at a local school in the Phu Sang district of Phayao province, Mrs. Kalong discovered deep financial problems. The evidence pointed directly to school administrators misusing funds meant to feed students.

Armed with financial documents, she filed official complaints against eight individuals. This group included former executives of the Chiang Rai Primary Educational Service Area Office 4, school principals, and related staff.

Key Details of the Corruption Case

Target of Inquiry: Systematic misuse of state funds, focusing heavily on the student school lunch program.
Evidence Gathered: Clear, detailed financial paperwork showing long-term budget discrepancies.
The Whistleblower’s Goal: Mrs. Kalong aims to push the legal cases to the absolute limit. She wants the state to provide retrospective compensation to the affected students, even though many have already graduated.

According to the latest police reports, investigators have formally charged all eight suspects. Additionally, two related administrative lawsuits are currently moving through the Chiang Mai Administrative Court.

Escalating Threats and Retaliation

Stepping forward as a whistleblower has cost Mrs. Kalong her safety and peace of mind. Instead of receiving praise for protecting student welfare, she describes a decade of systemic workplace bullying and physical intimidation.

[Timeline of Whistleblower Retaliation]
2018: Formal corruption complaints filed against 8 officials
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Workplace Punishment: Internal disciplinary probes and salary cuts
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Physical Intimidation: Vandalism (car scratched, stones thrown)
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May 2026: Online smear campaign targeting the whistleblower and the Governor

Mrs. Kalong reports that her opponents have used multiple tactics to break her spirit:

Financial and Professional Penalties: She was hit with internal disciplinary investigations, accused of deserting her official duties, and faced targeted salary deductions.
Physical Vandalism: Unknown individuals scratched her personal vehicle and threw heavy stones at her property.
Workplace Isolation: After being transferred to a different school, she faced continuous harassment from new colleagues trying to drive her out.

The situation escalated further on May 27, 2026. Mrs. Kalong filed a brand-new defamation complaint at the Thoeng Police Station against an online user. The individual allegedly posted defamatory claims on a prominent Facebook page for teachers, falsely portraying her as the wrongdoer. The malicious post also insulted Mr. Chucheep Pongchai, the Governor of Chiang Rai.

Fleeing the Province for Witness Protection

With the criminal cases closing in on the suspects, Mrs. Kalong fears the backlash will turn deadly. She and her husband, who is also a government teacher, no longer feel safe living or working in Chiang Rai or Phayao provinces.

To ensure their survival, she has formally applied for an emergency relocation to Kamphaeng Phet province under the NACC Provisions on Witness Protection and Assistance B.E. 2562 (2019).

The transfer serves a dual purpose. It removes her from a hostile environment where she has too many adversaries. At the same time, it allows her husband to return to his home province to care for his elderly parents.

Anti-corruption officials in Chiang Rai have officially accepted her petition and are fast-tracking the safety review. For Mrs. Kalong, the move is a bittersweet necessity—a temporary retreat from the region she tried to better, just to keep herself alive as justice takes its course.