Seven people, including three government officials, have been arrested after an investigation found 1,366 non-Thai children listed in household registrations at Din Daeng apartments in Bangkok.
More than 100 officers searched seven locations on Tuesday, August 18, in an operation called "Clearing House in Central Bangkok". It was led by Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma and Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom.
Unusual registration transfers flagged
The case began when the Department of Provincial Administration's DOPA N.I.C.E. task force examined the Din Daeng District Office between April and June. It found unusually high numbers of people being moved onto a small number of household registrations.
Investigators then checked 5,726 rooms at the Din Daeng flats and found at least 1,366 non-Thai children, aged from five to 15, recorded at addresses there.
Police allege that officials and intermediaries approved large numbers of registration transfers in short periods, despite system alerts showing that multiple people were registered at individual addresses.
Investigators also said they found evidence of documents being signed in advance and of forged householder signatures. These documents were allegedly used to support applications for identification cards for people without Thai nationality.
Officials, broker and householder arrested
Evidence was submitted to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, which issued seven arrest warrants.
Those detained include three government officials, a householder, an intermediary, a broker and a person alleged to have certified a signature. Police did not release their names or specify the charges.
All seven were taken for further legal proceedings, while investigators continue to look for others who may have been involved.
The operation follows a government directive to examine alleged corruption in civil-registration records and possible security implications.
Why the registrations matter
Authorities said people entered into the registration system may become eligible for a pink card, an identification document for people without Thai nationality. Under Thai law, the document can provide access to rights including basic education, healthcare and certain financial transactions.
Officials warned that fraudulently obtained registrations or identification documents could be used in mule-account schemes, online scams or transnational criminal networks.
Picture courtesy of The Nation
Related story
Fake-father-probe-DOPA-checks-1500-Bangkok-records
Join the discussion? 
19 August 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment