BANGKOK(NNT)- The Crime Suppression Division and the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, have arrested suspects in possession of fake ID cards of deceased citizens whose relatives may not have notified district officials. A former district clerk was arrested as leader of the suspected gang.


Pol Maj Gen Jiraphop Phuridet, commander of the Crime Suppression Division and Pol Lt Col Siriphong Sritula, director of the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, addressed a news media conference on the arrest of four of a group of nine suspects producing fake ID cards. Five other suspects who remain at large are yet to be located.


The suspects managed to acquire data about deceased or missing persons whose relatives may not have notified officials in Sangkhom district of Nong Khai province. One of the suspects would see the relatives and offer to buy the name of the deceased for 30,000 baht. Then, the name of the deceased would be confirmed in Sangkhom district’s home census documents. The former clerk of Sangkhom district who allegedly acted as leader of the gang, subsequently signed an ID card with the face of their client on it and all data including the ID number belonging to the deceased.


The nine-member gang has allegedly been commiting the crime since 2012, and is believed to have forged ID cards for over 100 clients. It remains to be seen if any fake ID cards have been provided for transnational criminals, drug traffickers or human traffickers. One fake ID card would be offered for 150,000 baht.

National News Bureau Of Thailand