BANGKOK: Thai authorities have arrested a district official and a district employee accused of involvement in falsifying civil-registration records for Sun Mingchen, a Chinese national already facing charges linked to military-grade weapons and explosive materials.
The Interior Ministry announced the results of Operation Revealing the Dragon’s Shadow at the National Anti-Corruption Commission Region 5 office in Chiang Mai on Friday, May 15.
The press conference was led by Jeseth Thaiseth, Deputy Minister of Interior, and attended by officials from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), anti-corruption agencies, police and the Department of Special Investigation.
Jeseth said Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had placed importance on national security threats, including transnational crime, scammer networks and other threats that undermine the country.
He said the alleged falsification of registration records for Sun was not merely a case of identity misuse or improper benefit for one individual, but part of what he described as a “traitorous network” because it allegedly transferred rights belonging to Thai people to a foreigner with hidden or harmful intentions.
The case stems from the arrest of Sun, a Chinese national who held a pink non-Thai ID card.
He was detained after his vehicle overturned in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, and police later found military-grade weapons, explosive materials and ammunition in the vehicle and at a residence on May 9. Authorities have linked the case to suspected transnational criminal networks.
The case prompted Anutin to order DOPA to urgently inspect Sun’s civil-registration records.
The department assigned Witoon Sirinukul, deputy DOPA director-general and head of its National Identity Crime Enforcement (N.I.C.E.) task force, to lead DOPA N.I.C.E. investigators in the field.
Their inquiry allegedly found that Sun’s registration records were highly suspicious and abnormal, suggesting that the civil-registration system may have been used to support residence and business activity in Thailand.
Investigators also found alleged links between Sun’s records and a wider network involving the misuse of ethnic-minority rights.
Some people in the network were said to be Chinese nationals linked to scammer operations who had already faced legal proceedings.
The clearest alleged irregularity involved Sun’s transfer into a house registration in Chiang Dao district of Chiang Mai on October 12, 2022.
Authorities said the transfer was false because Sun had never lived at the house in Chiang Dao. The documents were allegedly handled and prepared by a former Chiang Dao deputy district chief, who is now a deputy district chief in Hot district, Chiang Mai.
Authorities believe Sun’s transfer into the Chiang Dao household may have been intended to support the misuse of ethnic-minority or Thai identity rights, making it easier for him to reside and conduct business in Thailand.
The investigation also found that when the former Chiang Dao official was serving in the district in 2021, 445 historical registration records were created for people with no civil-registration status, known as white cards or records beginning with zero. Preliminary checks found 18 cases believed to have been created unlawfully.
DOPA has assigned officials to file complaints with investigators from the Counter Corruption Division under the Central Investigation Bureau.
On Friday, the Region 5 Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases approved arrest warrants for two suspects: a Hot district deputy chief, who is a former Chiang Dao deputy district chief, and a Chiang Dao district employee.
An integrated team from five agencies — DOPA, Royal Thai Police, Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, National Anti-Corruption Commission and Department of Special Investigation — arrested both suspects under the warrants.
DOPA has ordered the Chiang Dao district registration office to revoke the allegedly fraudulent records and pursue disciplinary action against every official linked to the case.
DOPA N.I.C.E. investigators will continue expanding the investigation with partner agencies.
The arrests follow growing official concern over Sun’s case, which has raised wider questions about Thailand’s identity-registration, immigration and security systems.
The case has also fed into broader debate over foreign criminal networks, nominee structures and visa procedures.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow earlier said Thailand may review the visa-free stay period for Chinese tourists after the case, stressing that immigration procedures must remain effective while Thailand continues to welcome legitimate tourists and business visitors. - The Nation/ANN
