Latest news with #CrimeSuppressionDivision
Bangkok Post
23-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Two caught selling cars with fake registration linked to bombers
Two men arrested for selling used cars with fake licence plates and forged documentation have been linked to a network providing vehicles for car-bombers in Thailand's far South, according to police. A 50-strong police contingent armed with arrest warrants issued on July 16 raided 14 locations on Tuesday in their search for Passawat Yindee, 48, and Thirawit Kingkaew, 30, Pol Maj Gen Wittaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said on Wednesday. The suspects were apprehended separately, one in Muang district of Nakhon Pathom and the other in Nong Chok district of Bangkok, he said. Police also seized 41 items of evidence - mobile phones, cars, fake licence plates and documents. The investigation began after highway police detected fake plates on a BMW car, using a licence plate recognition system. They subsequently learned the driver had bought the plates from the Facebook page เฮียอ๊อด (Hia Odd). Investigators found the page had been selling used cars and fake licence plates, car registration books and other documentation to buyers. Most of the cars had been pawned and some had been used illegally, police said. Mr Thirawit allegedly admitted to producing and selling fake documents, admitting the business earned him almost a million baht a year. Mr Passawat allegedly admitted he had been selling cars and fake documents through the pages เฮียอ๊อด and เสี่ยบัง ยอดแหลม (Sia-Bung Yodlaem), earning 2,000 to 5,000 baht per vehicle and 200 to 300 baht per document. Further investigation revealed the illegal operation was linked to national crime, Pol Maj Gen Wittaya said. One case involved the police interception of a pickup used by bombers in the South of Thailand that was purchased through the suspects' network. Police said the network had been generating over 200 million baht a year. Search warrants had been issued for others involved, police said. The investigation is ongoing.
Bangkok Post
23-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Two caught selling cars wtih fake registration linked to bombers
Two men arrested for selling used cars with fake licence plates and forged documentation have been linked to a network providing vehicles for car-bombers in the far South, according to police. A 50-strong police contingent armed with arrest warrants issued on July 16 raided 14 locations on Tuesday in their search for Passawat Yindee, 48, and Thirawit Kingkaew, 30, Pol Maj Gen Wittaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said on Wednesday. The suspects were apprehended separately, one in Muang district of Nakhon Pathom and the other in Nong Chok district of Bangkok, he said. Police also seized 41 items of evidence - mobile phones, cars, fake licence plates and documents. The investigation began after highway police detected fake plates on a BMW car, using a licence plate recognition system. They subsequently learned the driver had bought the plates from the Facebook page เฮียอ๊อด. Investigators found the page had been selling used cars and fake licence plates, car registration books and other documentation to buyers. Most of the cars had been pawned and some had been used illegally, police said. Mr Thirawit allegedly admitted to producing and selling fake documents, admitting the business earned him almost a million baht a year. Mr Passawat allegedly admitted he had been selling cars and fake documents through the pages เฮียอ๊อด and เสี่ยบัง ยอดแหลม, earning 2,000 to 5,000 baht per vehicle and 200 to 300 baht per document. Further investigation revealed the illegal operation was linked to national crime, Pol Maj Gen Wittaya said. One case involved the police interception of a pickup used by bombers in the South of Thailand that was purchased through the suspects' network. Police said the network had been generating over 200 million baht a year. Search warrants had been issued for others involved, police said. The investigaton is ongoing.
Bangkok Post
16-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Charges mount against woman at centre of temple sex scandal
Police charges are mounting against the 35-year-old woman known as 'Sika Golf' who allegedly had sex with many senior monks at well-known temples in many provinces and also blackmailed them. Pol Col Anek Taosuparp, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), said Wilawan 'Sika Golf' Emsawat was charged additionally with fraud in connection with an old complaint from a former director of Buddhism in the northern province of Phichit. 'Sika' is a Thai word that monks use to address a woman. According to the deputy commander, the former Buddhism official lent 400,000 baht to Ms Golf, who claimed she needed money for medical treatment and pointed out that she had evidence a relationship with a senior monk in Phichit. The former director filed his complaint in 2016 and the investigation was first revived in 2018, when there was clear evidence of money transactions. The CSD is also prosecuting Ms Wilawan for alleged extortion of money from a former assistant abbot at popular Wat Sothonwararam in Chachoengsao province. Pol Col Anek said the woman's methodology was to develop a close relationship with a monk before shifting to money issues. In this case, police had proof the former assistant abbot transferred 8,000 baht to her associate. Pol Col Anek said the CSD was handling fraud and embezzlement cases concerning 'Sika Golf' and other people, and the police Anti-Corruption Division was proceeding with cases concerning monks' misconduct and embezzlement. Ms Wilawan was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province on Tuesday and has alredy been charged with supporting a monk's embezzlement of temple funds, laundering money and receiving stolen goods. She is being detained at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. According to police sources, Ms Wilawan, aka Sika Golf, is a native of Phichit province. She was the wife of a local politician who left her after learning she phoned lovers at night and received banknotes, coins and daily necessities donated to monks and regifted to her. She reportedly had many pictures of monks on the walls of their home. The scandal around her activities erupted late last month when the abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep in Bangkok disappeared. Police suspect she had tried to blackmail him. Police searched her house and found a number of mobile phones storing about 80,000 sex photos and videos involving many senior monks at many famous temples. About 15 monks are suspected of having a special relationship with the woman and nine were known to have already left the monkhood as of Wednesday, when an ecclesiastical chief of monks in the northern province of Phisanulok doffed his robes and reverted to being a lay citizen. Meanwhile, an assistant abbot of Wat Prayurawongsawat Worawihan in Bangkok has denied he had sexual relations with her, although police have copies of their intimate conversations and his photo on a chat app. Police said on Tuesday that about 385 million baht was paid into Ms Wilawan's bank accounts over the past three years and she lost most of it gambling online.
The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
Golf, the femme fatale embroiled in sex scandal with monks, faces arrest over embezzlement of temple funds
BANGKOK: Golf, the notorious femme fatale who has become infamous for her alleged involvement with senior Buddhist monks, now faces an arrest warrant. The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases approved the warrant after investigators uncovered evidence that Golf had allegedly received a portion of a temple fund from a monk with whom she had a sexual relationship. On Tuesday (July 15), the court granted the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) an arrest warrant for Golf, who is facing three charges: >Collaboration with officials to commit malfeasance (in violation of Article 147 of the Criminal Code) >Collaboration in money laundering >Taking stolen items The CSD obtained the arrest warrant after discovering a transaction record showing that the former abbot of Wat Chujit Thammaram in Ayutthaya remitted 380,000 baht to Golf's account. The money was traced back to the temple's account, not the personal account of the former abbot, who has reportedly left monkhood following the scandal. Investigators summoned Golf to meet with them on Tuesday. During the interrogation, she will be questioned about the transactions she received from various senior monks and the money she transferred to some monks in return. Investigators will also ask her to identify the monks featured in photos and videos found on her mobile phone The sex scandal involving Golf and multiple senior monks has captivated Thai public attention for weeks. Several TV stations have dubbed her the 'femme fatale' who targeted senior monks. Reports indicate that Golf has had sexual relationships with over 20 monks, many of whom held high monastic ranks. As a result, nine monks have reportedly left monkhood, while three others have gone into hiding. Earlier, police did not arrest Golf or seek legal action due to a lack of clear evidence. Most of her alleged victims had transferred money to her from their personal accounts, not the temple's funds. The monastic law only requires monks, who were found to have sex with women, to be defrocked, but does not state legal penalties against the women. Police were also unable to take action against Golf for blackmailing the monks, as the transfers appeared to be voluntary. However, the Ayutthaya temple case is different, as investigators allege that temple funds were illicitly transferred to Golf's account, which now forms the basis for her arrest. - The Nation/ANN
Bangkok Post
28-06-2025
- Bangkok Post
Suspects arrested in loan fraud
Three suspects were arrested for running a nationwide fake Facebook scam, which allegedly tricked nearly 400 victims, resulting in losses exceeding 20 million baht. Pol Maj Gen Wittaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), told a press briefing that three male suspects, identified only as Korrakot, 29, Kritanai, 28, and Papontee, 30, were arrested. They were wanted on arrest warrants issued by Songkhla Provincial Court for charges of public fraud, inputting false data into computer systems, and illegally using others' electronic cards. Mr Korrakot and Mr Kritanai were caught at a condominium in Bangkok's Klong Toey district, while Mr Papontee was arrested at his home in Lop Buri. Authorities also seized a red C200 Coupe AMG Mercedes-Benz, 23 mobile phones, six desktop computers and notebooks, a cash counting machine, and two gold bar plates. The seized assets are valued at approximately 4 million baht. The case began in February when a bank staff member sent a report indicating that customers had been duped into applying for credit or debit cards online. Scammers posed as bank staff, claiming that anyone could apply regardless of income, with no fees, by providing only a "very satisfied" rating in a fake customer survey. The victims were misled into completing the application process for the cards. Shortly after activation, their cards' balances were used to make online purchases, transactions they did not authorise or initiate. Investigators alleged that the gang bought Facebook pages with high follower counts, often from so-called "grey market" groups. These pages were recustomised with fake bank logos and names, such as "Xpress Cash" or "Quick Loans". Victims were asked to video call via Line, during which scammers instructed them to display their banking app screens to capture account balances. If balances were low, victims were then asked to transfer money from other accounts, claiming it would improve their chances of approval. Police said the perpetrators then used the victims' card details and one-time password codes to make online purchases, such as gold or luxury goods, which were shipped to pick-up points. Items were then resold for cash. Investigators allege that Mr Korrakot, a computer engineering college dropout, was the ringleader, and he used the scam's profits to fund a lavish lifestyle.
