Fake birth certificate arrests made in Bangkok

Police and anti-corruption officials have arrested six suspects, including a civil servant in Bangkok, for allegedly issuing forged birth certificates to unlawfully grant Thai nationality.

The suspects were detained at the Thon Buri district registration office and nearby residences on the Thon Buri side of the capital on Wednesday.  

The arrests came just days after authorities exposed a birth registration fraud ring at a municipal office in Nakhon Ratchasima. Most of the 27 people who received fake Thai documents were Chinese nationals, investigators said.

The investigation in Bangkok began after authorities were alerted to complaints about fake documents issued to stateless individuals for use in obtaining Thai nationality, said Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat Pankaeo, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).

An internal review traced the suspicious documents back to the Thon Buri district office, prompting a wider inquiry.

CIB officers teamed up with officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the Department of Provincial Administration. Arrest warrants were issued by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.

Pol Maj Gen Jruykiat said investigators uncovered alleged collusion between a public official and external accomplices in producing fraudulent birth records. The scheme enabled individuals without legal status to assume Thai identities.

Among those arrested was someone from the district registration office, accused of abusing official duties, falsifying documents and certifying false information as legitimate records. Five other suspects were identified as accomplices.

All face multiple charges related to misconduct in office, document forgery and supporting corrupt practices. Seized evidence included registration documents believed to be linked to the operation.

The suspects have been handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings, while authorities are expanding the inquiry to identify additional beneficiaries and any wider networks.