Thousands of Thai civil servants face suspension over an exam cheating scandal, authorities said yesterday, as investigators widened a probe that has already led to three arrests.

Corruption and bribery cases regularly make headlines in Thailand, but it is rare for so many public officials to be affected.

The scandal began in June, when investigators said they had concluded that officials accepted bribes of up to 800,000 baht ($23,847) to electronically alter candidates’ results to allow them to pass mandatory exams for government appointments or promotions.