Thai judiciary skids into more controversy

13 Sept 12:50 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's judiciary faces a fresh scandal following allegations of bribery involving Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) and Thai judges in a significant Bt11 billion import tax case.
US authorities, including the SEC and DOJ, are actively investigating Toyota for potential violations of American anti-bribery laws related to its Thai subsidiary.
Toyota launched an internal investigation into whether its consultants paid Thai judges and government officials to influence a court judgment against TMT regarding the disputed tax and excise duties.
The core legal battle involves TMT's appeal against a demand for unpaid import taxes on 20,000 Prius cars, with conflicting rulings from lower courts and the case now accepted by the Supreme Court.
A Thai Judiciary spokesman acknowledged the commonality of bribery claims against judges but urged caution, assuring that all allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated by the Judicial Commission.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.