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Thailand News

All the latest news stories from Thailand are written in English. Fresh news and stories from around the kingdom brought to you daily.

South African ex-teacher apologises over Songkhla threats

A former South African English teacher at Hatyaiwittayalai School in Songkhla has issued a public apology after allegedly posting messages threatening to shoot teachers and administrators.

Pieter Johannes Dreyer was accused of sharing the messages, along with an image of a firearm, in a Line group chat after his contract with the school's English Programme was terminated.

Apology to students and former colleagues

In a video apology, Dreyer addressed students, former colleagues, parents, alumni and others affected by his comments. He said some of the language he used could have caused fear and concern, particularly at a sensitive time for school violence.

Dreyer said he did not intend to hurt anybody and completely rejected violence. He maintained that his comments were meant to raise concerns that he wanted addressed properly, but accepted that the way he expressed them was wrong.

He said he regretted making people feel afraid and understood that recent events had made people especially concerned about the messages.

The former teacher added that he had already apologised in the group chat, but wanted to repeat his apology to all his Thai students.

School safety concerns heightened

The alleged posts came shortly after a shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School which killed nine people, adding to public anxiety over safety in Thai schools.

Dreyer said any disagreements or concerns he had should be handled through appropriate procedures and should not be linked to threats or violence. He said he hoped people would accept his apology, adding that he respected the safety of students and the wider community.

He also pledged to take responsibility for his words and be more careful in future.

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12 August 2026
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Israeli tourist accused in Patong tuk-tuk row

A Patong tuk-tuk driver has accused an Israeli tourist of threatening him during a dispute over a fare on Phuket's Thawiwong Road on 9 August.

The confrontation, involving an Israeli family of five and an Australian couple already in the tuk-tuk, happened at about 8.15pm in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. Footage from the driver's dashboard camera was later posted online and attracted widespread criticism.

The driver, posting under the Facebook name "Oiltuktukpatong Saranate", initially captioned a video: "Let's see what the Israeli family did." He subsequently uploaded further footage, alleging that the tourists swore at him, spat at him and tried to lift a concrete roadside barrier to intimidate him.

Disagreement over a fare

According to the driver, the Israeli family - a couple and their three children - had first approached him earlier that evening to ask the fare for a journey to the Patong beach area.

However, they could not agree on a price and went their separate ways, he said.

Soon afterwards, an Australian couple approached the vehicle and got in. The Israeli family then returned and said they wanted to share the tuk-tuk ride, but the driver refused because he already had passengers.

The driver alleged that the Israeli man then told the Australian couple to leave the vehicle so that his family could use it. The driver said he would not agree, leading to a heated exchange.

Driver says he feared an assault

The tuk-tuk driver further claimed that the Israeli man used offensive language and shouted for him to leave the area.

He said the man appeared at one point to try to lift a concrete barrier beside the road. The driver said he feared it might be used to attack him, although the man was reportedly unable to lift it.

Only parts of the exchange were recorded by the tuk-tuk's dashcam. Online discussion has largely focused on the disputed fare and the allegation that the Australian passengers were told to get out of the vehicle.

The driver, who said he has worked in Phuket's tourism sector for several decades, said such verbal abuse and alleged intimidation should not happen in a major tourist destination.

No official response or outcome has been reported by authorities.

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Video footage from tuk-tuk

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12 August 2026
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Thai police order nationwide illegal gun crackdown

Thailand's national police chief has ordered a nationwide drive against illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives, alongside increased security at schools, shopping centres, parks and other public spaces.

Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwpan, deputy inspector-general and Royal Thai Police spokesman, said on Tuesday, August 11, that Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet issued the order after a series of violent incidents involving firearms or explosives. Those incidents caused deaths, injuries and property damage.

The operation splits responsibility between two deputy national police chiefs. Investigation teams will pursue illegal weapons offences, while crime-prevention officers will step up patrols and prepare for emergencies in public areas.

Gun permits

Until further notice, no new permits to purchase or own guns will be issued. Existing purchase permits will not be renewed but it is unclear what will happen to existing gun ownership permits.

Permits to carry guns were suspended in late 2023 - meaning owners must keep their weapons at home or at a shooting range.

Authorised are also considering measures and incentives to persuade the owners of an estimated four million unlicensed guns to hand them over in the wake of the school shooting.

Focus on illegal weapons and online sales

Pol Gen Thana Chuwong, the deputy national police chief responsible for investigation work, has been assigned to lead action against offences involving guns, ammunition and explosives.

Police units have been told to identify and investigate people linked to illegal weapons, carry out searches connected with weapons offences, and investigate unlawful sales both in person and through social-media channels.

Investigative and crime-prevention resources are also to be combined for nationwide enforcement operations.

Illegal weapons are already listed among crimes that police units must address continuously under the Royal Thai Police's 2026 operational plan.

More patrols at public locations

Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, the deputy national police chief responsible for crime prevention and suppression, will oversee security measures at so-called soft targets. These include schools, shopping centres and public parks.

The measures call for more visible Stop Walk Talk patrols, checks for firearms, and inspections of suspicious people and vehicles. Police have also been instructed to improve systems for receiving emergency reports and getting officers to incident scenes.

Tactical special-operation teams are to be kept ready to intervene in serious incidents, while security is to be increased at public locations more generally.

Police weapons also under review

Police units have additionally been ordered to review and control official police firearms in line with existing regulations.

The force's 2026 plan already includes Stop Walk Talk patrols, tactical training and stronger capabilities for responding to serious incidents.

Pol Gen Kitrat instructed commissioners, commanders and supervisors at every level to coordinate investigative and crime-prevention teams during the crackdown. Officers were also told to follow police tactics and the law strictly.


Picture courtesy of The Nation

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12 August 2026
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German tourist missing after being swept off Freedom Beach

A German tourist remains missing after strong waves swept two people into the sea at Freedom Beach in Phuket's Kathu district on 10 August 2026. Lifeguards rescued the woman safely, but searches for the man have been restricted by rough seas and strong winds.

The missing man has been named as 30-year-old Jannic Jurgen Nobel. The woman rescued from the water is 28-year-old Anduk Michelle, also a German national.

Both had been staying at Two Villas Holiday Phuket Onyx Style, from 5 to 11 August 2026.

Lifeguards rescue one tourist

Pol Lt Col Jaras Lempan, an investigator at Karon Police Station, was alerted by the Karon radio centre that two tourists were struggling in the sea at Freedom Beach.

He reported the case to Pol Col Pathi Srichai, superintendent of Karon Police Station, before travelling to the beach and coordinating relevant agencies.

The pair had entered the water at Freedom Beach, despite red warning flags, when heavy waves struck, pulling them away from shore and into deeper water. Lifeguards on duty responded urgently and brought the woman ashore safely.

The man, however, was swept further out to sea and disappeared.

Search moves to shoreline and rocks

Authorities launched a search and coordinated rescue teams after the incident. But worsening conditions, including strong winds, high waves and nightfall, made an offshore operation difficult and risky for personnel.

The sea search was therefore temporarily suspended.

On 11 August, rescue workers had still been unable to resume an offshore search because the sea remained rough. Teams have instead adjusted their plans to search along the shoreline and around rocky areas.

Officials are continuing to monitor sea conditions closely and say the marine search will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.


Picture courtesy of MGR online

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11 August 2026
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Phuket court detains Myanmar girl, 12, for 30 days

A 12-year-old Myanmar girl has been ordered held at Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre for 30 days while police investigate an alleged assault on a 14-year-old Thai schoolgirl in a school bathroom.

The Phuket Juvenile and Family Court made the order on 11 August 2026 after Cherng Talay Police brought the girl before the court within 24 hours of her being formally charged.

The accused, described as aged 12 years and eight months, is alleged to have attacked the Thai student at a school in Phuket. As she is a minor, authorities have stressed that her identity and any information that could identify her must not be disclosed.

Alleged assault

The alleged assault took place at about 1.30pm on 5 August, after a dispute reportedly linked to allegations that the girls had been gossiping about each other. Police who responded to the school found six girls involved in the incident, four of whom were students at the school and two who were from outside the school.



The 14-year-old Thai student who was allegedly attacked was reported to have bruising around her left eye and left arm and an abrasion to her knee, with doctors estimating that her injuries would require about two days to heal.

Police initially recorded the incident and the two sides agreed to mediation, with the parents of the alleged attacker agreeing to pay 3,000 baht in compensation, but the injured girl’s mother later filed a formal complaint after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media.

Court orders 30-day detention

Police said the girl was formally notified of the allegation on 10 August in the presence of a Phuket provincial prosecutor, a psychologist and a person requested by the child, in line with legal procedures for children facing criminal allegations.

Investigators then took her to the Juvenile and Family Court so it could confirm whether she fell within the legal definition of a child accused of an offence, and whether the charge and treatment of the child had been carried out lawfully.

At the hearing, police set out their reasons, necessity and supporting evidence for seeking custody. They said her alleged behaviour could pose a serious danger to others and cited other grounds, including the fact that her mother and father had lost their jobs.

The court subsequently ordered her held during the investigation at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre for 30 days.

If the investigation is not completed within that period, police may apply for further custody orders of up to 15 days each. Such extensions can be requested no more than twice under the legal process.

Immigration action may follow case outcome

Once the case has reached its final legal outcome, the girl will be referred to the Immigration Bureau for consideration of further action under relevant laws.


Pictures courtesy of Amarin

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11 August 2026
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Aussie Says Cheap Bangkok Surgery Left Her Disfigured

Melbourne grandmother Lynda Lazaridis says cosmetic surgery in Bangkok left her with permanent scarring, loss of her breasts and nipples positioned high on her chest after she travelled to Thailand for a 60th birthday body makeover in 2022.

Ms Lazaridis told a recent 60 Minutes programme, she had lost 15kg, was experiencing back pain and had excess skin. She said a Bangkok cosmetic surgeon recommended a series of procedures intended to ease her discomfort.

"They recommended I have a butt lift, thigh lift inner and outer, liposuction, something called a reversed tummy tuck - I had no idea what that was - and arms," she said.

Surgery followed cheaper overseas quote

Ms Lazaridis said she selected the company because the operations were far cheaper than in Australia, where she said the work would have cost more than $200,000.

While discussing payment options, she alleged that the company suggested she access her Australian superannuation by claiming the surgery was treatment for a life-threatening illness, despite it not being urgent.

She said she became concerned shortly before the operation, when the surgeon asked what breast size she wanted. Ms Lazaridis said she requested C-cups.

"I woke up to no breasts. They were gone, completely gone," she said. "My nipple was up here [near my armpits], right in my face."

"Looking at yourself in the mirror every day, and seeing all those scars, it's overwhelming."

Despite further surgery and treatment, Ms Lazaridis said she still finds it difficult to cover her nipples with ordinary bras and clothing.

Doctor calls outcome "indefensible"

Dr Mark Duncan-Smith, a plastic surgeon and chairman of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association, described the outcome as "indefensible".

"She's botched, she's maimed, she's got scars for life," he said. Dr Duncan-Smith said the nipple placement was "a rookie mistake" and that attempts to correct it would create further scarring.

For foreigners considering cosmetic treatment in Thailand, the cases underline the importance of understanding exactly which procedures are being proposed, who will perform them and what follow-up care will be available after leaving the country. Lower quoted prices can be a major draw, but complex operations may require ongoing treatment if complications arise.

Second woman describes lasting injuries

The programme also reported the case of Sophie Tsivoglou, who said she had a disastrous experience with the same company in 2022, despite having had a positive result there four years earlier.

Ms Tsivoglou claimed she was unable to feel her legs afterwards and was left with unexplained scars in parts of her body not connected to her procedure.

"I've always covered myself before getting in front of a mirror," she said. "It's like I've been in a car accident and dogs have chewed me up, just taking chunks out of my body. It's just terrible."


Picture courtesy of Daily Mall

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11 August 2026
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Bodybuilder condemns Israeli’s hotel door prank

A Thai bodybuilder has criticised a group of Israeli tourists after they allegedly banged repeatedly on his hotel room door near Bangkok's Pratunam Market, waking and frightening him and his wife.

Prakasit Kruabut said the disturbance happened while the couple were asleep. In a Facebook post shared on August 9, he said four loud impacts struck their door, followed by laughter and other noise from outside the room.

He posted a photograph featuring an Israeli flag in the background and urged visitors to Thailand to behave appropriately.

Hotel staff check cameras

Prakasit said he contacted the hotel reception and asked staff to review security camera footage after the couple initially feared there might be an emergency.



According to his account, hotel employees confirmed that a group of Israeli tourists had knocked on the door as a prank before running away.

In a subsequent video, Prakasit addressed Israeli visitors directly.

"This is a message for Israeli tourists in Thailand. Everyone is happy that you come to travel and bring money to Thailand but please also bring your brain and manners," he said.

He said the group later left the hotel to enjoy Bangkok nightlife. Hotel staff then reportedly locked their room, meaning they had to contact reception and apologise to Prakasit and his wife before they could regain access.

Apology before checkout

Prakasit said one member of the group later came to his room and apologised to the couple before the tourists checked out.


Pictures courtesy of Facebook Toon Vegan

However, he said he did not believe the apology was sincere, suggesting it was mainly made so the group could get back into their room and continue their stay.

The bodybuilder said he did not want to judge all Israeli tourists on the actions of one group. He added that followers had contacted him with accounts of their own negative experiences involving Israeli visitors, while stressing that there were both good and bad people among them.

Several social media users called on Prakasit and his wife to pursue legal action, arguing that it could deter similar conduct by foreign tourists. No legal complaint or police action was reported in Prakasit's account.

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11 August 2026
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Chiang Mai police trace school threat chat sender

Police have identified students linked to threatening messages shared in a chat group at a well-known private school in Chiang Mai, prompting tightened security at schools across the province on 11 August.

The messages, circulated online after being posted on the evening of 10 August in a Line group for upper-secondary pupils, raised fears of violence at 10am the following day. Police said they had contacted the parents of those involved and would take them for discussions to establish the facts and the reasons behind the posts.

Parents collect children as school steps up checks

The chat reportedly involved two male students. One message threatened a shooting, particularly targeting pupils in classrooms 9 and 10, while another student was reported to have posted an image of a gun.

The school, Montfort College, in Tha Sala subdistrict of Mueang Chiang Mai district, asked officers from Mae Ping Police Station to provide security. Teachers also checked every pupil's bag before they entered, as the school was holding Mother's Day activities.



School executives, Mae Ping police and Chiang Mai Provincial Education Office officials met to investigate. Several parents collected their children from the school after learning of the reports online.

Police Major General Yutthana Kaenchan, commander of Chiang Mai Provincial Police, later said police had identified the students connected with sending the messages.

Province-wide school patrols ordered

Yutthana ordered police in every area to increase security and monitoring at all schools, saying the measure was intended to reassure pupils, teachers, staff and parents.

He urged pupils and parents to follow information issued by schools and authorities, avoid sharing unconfirmed messages and not create alarm that could lead to copycat behaviour.

Chiang Mai police have previously worked with several educational institutions to provide "Run, Hide, Fight" training for pupils and teaching staff. Schools, companies and private organisations seeking the training can contact Chiang Mai Provincial Police or their local police station.

Education officials say the school is operating normally
Chiang Mai's Provincial Education Office visited the school and said conditions there remained normal, although officials continued close monitoring.

The office is preparing province-specific safety measures, including joint preventive activities with relevant agencies, for submission to the Chiang Mai governor, who chairs the provincial education committee, on 18 August 2026.


Pictures courtesy of Matichon

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11 August 2026


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Anutin orders action over PAO shooting suspect treatment

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered Nonthaburi's governor and provincial police chief to act decisively against former MP Chalong Riewraeng, accused of shooting dead Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation president Pol Col Thongchai Yenprasert.

Mr Anutin said that the suspect must receive no special treatment or assistance, regardless of his standing. Mr Chalong was arrested soon after the shooting at a PAO office.

PM challenges police handling

The prime minister said he was disturbed by online images showing Mr Chalong apparently relaxed, smoking a cigarette and speaking to media during police questioning without handcuffs.

"The case is a serious crime that has shaken public confidence," Mr Anutin said. He described the police handling as unacceptable and said he had instructed National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch to ensure the case was properly handled and officers involved were reprimanded.

"The crime has already been committed. He carried a firearm illegally. Even if he had an ownership licence, the carry permit system expired in 2023. Anyone carrying a gun now is breaking the law," he said.

Shooting followed alleged debt dispute

The shooting happened at about 11am on Monday 10 August, behind the PAO building near the city planning office. Police found a black Volvo van with its engine running in the car park.

Pol Col Thongchai, 71, had finished a meeting and was preparing to leave when Mr Chalong allegedly approached the vehicle. The pair had known each other for years and were reportedly friends.

Police said Mr Chalong knocked on the driver's-side window and, after it was lowered, allegedly fired at the PAO chief. Pol Col Thongchai was hit four times, in the chin, face, forehead and neck, and taken to Phra Nang Klao Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him. He was later pronounced dead.

His driver, Yot, fled towards Nonthaburi provincial hall. Mr Chalong allegedly pursued him and fired another shot, striking him in the right arm. The former MP remained at the scene and was taken to Rattanathibet police station for questioning.

Police have not conclusively established a motive. A preliminary report indicated the dispute concerned an alleged 11-million-baht personal debt owed by Pol Col Thongchai to Mr Chalong, who reportedly went to the PAO office seeking repayment after earlier attempts had failed.

Party status and gun claim examined

After the shooting, Mr Chalong reportedly called online broadcaster Anchalee Paireerak while she was hosting a live programme, telling her he had shot Pol Col Thongchai. Ms Anchalee persuaded him to put down his gun and await police, while her outlet's staff contacted Rattanathibet police.

Provincial Police Region 1 commissioner Pol Lt Gen Wattana Yeechin said Mr Chalong had confessed, though investigators were still assessing his account.

His claim that he fired only after the PAO chief's driver drew a gun is also being investigated. Police said neither of the two firearms found in the PAO chief's vehicle appeared to have been fired.

Mr Anutin said Mr Chalong's Bhumjaithai Party status was irrelevant, adding that membership could automatically lapse under rules barring criminal conduct. Party registrar Traisulee Taisaranakul said Mr Chalong resigned on May 27, 2024, after unsuccessfully contesting the 2023 election as a Bhumjaithai candidate.


Picture courtesy of Bangkokpost

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11 August 2026

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Australian, 69, dies in Si Racha condo fall

A 69-year-old Australian man has died after falling from the sixth floor of a condominium in Si Racha, Chon Buri, early on 11 August. Police are investigating the circumstances and have sent the body for a post-mortem examination at Laem Chabang Hospital.

Rescuers from the Sawang Pratheep Si Racha unit and officers from Si Racha Police Station were called to the condo, in Moo 4 of Surasak subdistrict, at about 6am.

The man was identified as Andre Schuster, reported by authorities as an Australian national. He had lived alone in the condominium for less than a year, according to initial information reported to police.

Witness heard a loud impact

A foreign resident on the second floor, who said he was the first person to find the body, told officers he heard a loud impact.



He went out onto his balcony and looked down, where he saw Mr Schuster lying on a lower-level balcony area of the building. The witness said he did not know what had led to the fall.

Mr Schuster was found on the lower level wearing blue sleepwear. His arms and legs were broken and he had a head injury to his forehead. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers also noted marks of paint or dust on his hands and the soles of his feet.

Police believe he fell from the sixth-floor room where he had been staying.

Police examine sixth-floor room

Officers inspected Mr Schuster's room and said it appeared normal, with no signs of a disturbance and no evidence of a struggle.



Police said their preliminary view was that the incident may have been intentional and could have been linked to personal stress. They noted dust marks on his hands and feet, which they believe may indicate that he climbed onto the balcony before the fall.

However, the exact cause of death and the circumstances leading to it will be determined by the post-mortem examination and investigation.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek help.


Picture courtesy of Amarin

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11 August 2026
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Hua Hin pool villa nominee raids net 13 foreigners

Thai police have arrested 13 foreign suspects during an operation targeting alleged nominee company arrangements linked to pool villas in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan.

The operation, launched on 10 August, involved more than 200 officers and officials. Police issued arrest warrants for 45 foreign suspects, summonses for 39 Thais, and search warrants for 15 locations.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma ordered the operation, known as "Dismantling Foreign Nominee Networks, Phase 6". It was led by Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poolsawat and included Provincial Police Region 7, Prachuap Khiri Khan police, the provincial governor, the Department of Business Development and the Land Department.

Six firms under scrutiny at Hua Hin development

The searches centred on the A Hua Hin project in Thap Tai, Hua Hin, a modern detached-house and pool-villa development where homes are priced at about 10-20 million baht each.



Police said their investigation found six companies allegedly using Thai nominee shareholders to acquire property in the development. Four companies were linked to A Hua Hin Phase 1 - identified as Inter, Blue, Cro and Humming - while two, L and Chris, were linked to Phase 2.

Foreigners questioned by investigators reportedly said they wanted to own property and had been advised by legal and accounting firms to establish Thai companies for that purpose. They told police they believed this meant their ownership was lawful.

Police said the companies had not conducted business. Thai nationals listed as shareholders allegedly said they were holding shares for foreigners, had never paid for the shares, managed no companies and had never seen financial documents or evidence of their shareholdings.


Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid

Documents seized as police widen inquiry

Officers seized company registration and accounting records, computers, mobile phones and electronic data. They will examine financial trails and seek to identify other people or networks involved, in Thailand and overseas.

Police said 13 people were arrested under the warrants. Their list of nationalities comprised three Britons, one Italian, four Chinese, one French national, one Dutch national, one Austrian, one Filipino and one American.

The operation forms part of a wider national crackdown on alleged foreign nominee networks in tourist areas. During the previous five phases, police said they examined 233 plots of land and buildings covering more than 160 rai, with an estimated value of 2.539 billion baht.

Police said those earlier operations covered six provinces, listing Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Chon Buri. Courts approved 133 arrest warrants and 20 cases have already resulted in convictions, according to police.

The Royal Thai Police said it will continue investigating nominee arrangements and foreign-funded businesses alleged to be operating illegally, including any state officials suspected of corruption or assisting offenders. Reports can be made to local police stations or the 1599 police hotline, available 24 hours a day.


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11 August 2026
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School blames mis-communication for foreign ex-teacher's post

Hatyaiwittayalai School in Songkhla suspended classroom teaching for two days after a former South African teacher allegedly posted a firearm image, messages and an audio clip in a public LINE group.

School director Thiwichaya Meechooworapong said miscommunication over Thai bureaucratic procedures may have contributed to the dispute with Pieter Johannes Dreyer, who was dismissed on July 24.

The secondary school in Hat Yai, which has around 3,600 students, ordered pupils to study from home on Monday and Tuesday after considering the online material threatening. Patrol police visited the campus to provide additional security.

Wednesday is Mother's Day, a national holiday, and normal on-site classes are due to resume on Thursday.

School cites communication problems

Ms Thiwichaya said the school had tried to resolve problems with Mr Dreyer through meetings and discussions involving Thai staff and other foreign teachers.

She said the case had highlighted a need to review how the school recruits teachers. It could stop accepting walk-in applications from foreign teachers and instead use recruitment agencies in future.

For foreign teachers in Thailand, the case underlines the importance of having employment terms, salary arrangements and workplace concerns clearly documented. Public schools operate under formal approval systems, which can make changes to pay and other contractual matters slower than at private employers.

Salary and contract dispute

Mr Dreyer, formerly an English-language teacher at the school, had alleged fraud by the school. In a statement released by Ms Thiwichaya she denied those allegations.

She said his salary payment was delayed from November 26 to December 2, 2025, because severe flooding affected the school's database and payment system.

The director said the school could not immediately increase his monthly pay from 33,000 baht to 35,000 baht, as he had demanded. As a public school, it needed permission to approve a pay rise and the director did not have sole authority to make the change, she said.

According to the statement, Mr Dreyer had signed a contract accepting the 33,000-baht monthly rate. Ms Thiwichaya also denied that management had refused to reduce his social security contribution or overstated flood damage.

The school said it terminated his contract because he had allegedly breached it by posting false information online and being absent for more than two working days without informing a supervisor. The absence affected administration, teaching quality and the school's credibility, the director said.

Case now before Administrative Court

Ms Thiwichaya said Mr Dreyer filed a complaint with the Labour Court. Relevant authorities agreed with the school's request to move the case to the Administrative Court, which is considering it.

Immigration police said Mr Dreyer left Thailand through the Padang Besar border checkpoint in Sadao district, Songkhla, at 2.39pm on July 19 and had not returned. He has also been on the immigration watchlist to prevent him returning.

The school has filed a police complaint in response to the perceived threat and is seeking legal action. Ms Thiwichaya said management wanted to resolve the matter peacefully and limit its effect on all parties.

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11 August 2026
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Chai Nat monk's 'gun' at hospital was phone case

Police were called to a hospital in Mueang Chai Nat on 10 August after visitors reported that a monk waiting for medicine appeared to be carrying a handgun.

The apparent weapon turned out to be a plastic imitation gun attached to the monk's mobile phone case. Officers told him to remove it, confiscated it and warned that it had caused alarm among people at the hospital.

At 10.10am, officers from Mueang Chai Nat Police Station responded to the report at the front of the hospital's medicine collection room.



They found Phra Preeda Bunchuen, a monk from a temple in Neun Kham district, Chai Nat, sitting and waiting to receive his medication after a medical appointment.

Replica gun caused alarm

A shiny gun grip was visible from a bag worn inside the monk's robe, prompting concern among a large number of people using the hospital.

However, when officers examined the item, it was found to be a fake plastic gun decoration fixed to a phone case rather than a real firearm.


Picture courtesy of Amarin

Police had Phra Preeda remove the imitation gun from the case before taking it away. They warned him that displaying such an object could frighten members of the public, even if there was no intention to do so.

Phra Preeda said he had come to see the doctor and collect medicine as scheduled. He said he had bought the unusual mobile phone case through the TikTok app simply to use for fun, adding that it felt comfortable in his hand.

He said there was no harmful motive behind the case and promised not to use it again because he now understood that it could make others as frightened as they were at the hospital.

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11 August 2026
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Thailand's 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8s clear FAA order

Thailand's 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft can continue operating normally after the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) found none is covered by a new US inspection directive.

CAAT said on August 10 that it checked the line and serial numbers of all 12 aircraft operating in Thailand against the range specified by the US Federal Aviation Administration. All were outside the affected production range.

FAA action followed overseas crack findings

The FAA Airworthiness Directive applies to certain Boeing 737 MAX 8, MAX 9 and MAX 8-200 aircraft. It requires inspections of reinforcing structures around the forward right-hand service-door frame.

The US action followed the discovery of cracks in structural components on some aircraft outside Thailand.

CAAT, Thailand's civil aviation safety regulator, contacted airlines operating aircraft from the affected Boeing family and reviewed their fleets. Thailand currently has 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8s in service.

The authority said every one of the 12 Thai-based aircraft falls outside the production numbers identified in the FAA directive. As a result, they do not need the extra inspections or corrective measures specified in the order.

Normal operations can continue

The finding means the FAA directive does not apply to the 12 aircraft currently operating in Thailand. Passengers should therefore not expect changes to flights because of this specific technical order.

CAAT stressed that it will continue to follow technical information, airworthiness directives and other safety measures issued by aviation regulators and aircraft manufacturers.

It will also continue supervising Thai operators to ensure they meet airworthiness requirements.

Thailand's confirmation comes as the Boeing 737 MAX remains a widely used aircraft type internationally. For travellers booking flights in Thailand, aircraft types can vary by route and operator, but CAAT's statement concerns the 12 MAX 8 aircraft currently in Thai service rather than every Boeing aircraft flying into the country.


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11 August 2026
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Oil slick spreads from Koh Larn to Jomtien Beach

The oil slick previously reported in waters around Koh Larn have now been found floating in the sea and washing ashore at Jomtien Beach, Chon Buri, on Monday, 10 August.

Pattaya City has warned residents and tourists not to swim at Jomtien Beach while the substance is assessed. The slick was reported both along the shoreline and in the seawater, with significant amounts seen near Jomtien and Koh Larn.

Cleanup and testing begin

Pattaya City officials sent workers to collect samples of the black, oil, determine how far the pollution has spread and begin removing it from the affected area.

The discovery at Jomtien follows the earlier report of slicks around Koh Larn, suggesting the pollution has moved across waters used by tourist boats, swimmers and visitors travelling between the island and mainland Pattaya.



Authorities have not yet confirmed what the substance is or where it came from. The city said the assessment was still under way and urged people to exercise caution.

Two possible sources under investigation

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai said investigators were considering two possible explanations: an illegal discharge from a vessel, or material drifting into the area from around Laem Chabang.

Officials from the Marine Department and environmental agencies have joined Pattaya City in the inquiry.

Swimming warning remains in place

Pattaya City has not said when Jomtien Beach will reopen for swimming. Until testing and cleanup work clarify the scale and nature of the pollution, the warning applies to residents and tourists alike.


Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

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11 August 2026
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Defence Ministry confirms distressed flight passenger is soldier

Thailand's Defence Ministry has confirmed that a man filmed shouting and demanding that a flight from Malaysia to Don Mueang land was a serving soldier who had a pre-existing psychiatric condition.

The passenger's condition reportedly worsened during the flight, prompting cabin crew to intervene and restrain him until he calmed down. His unit has since sent him to Phramongkutklao Hospital for urgent treatment and close monitoring.

Ministry confirms passenger's military role

The case emerged after footage circulated on social media showing the male passenger shouting while aboard the Malaysia-Don Mueang service and attempting to force the aircraft land.

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, said the man is genuinely a soldier attached to the ministry's Defence Policy and Planning Office.


Picture courtesy of Komchadluek

He said the man had already been receiving treatment for a psychiatric illness linked to personal circumstances before the flight. However, his symptoms became severely acute while he was in the air, as seen in the video.

The ministry did not identify the soldier, airline or flight date, and gave no further details about the impact on the aircraft's journey or other passengers.

Hospital treatment under way

According to the Defence Ministry, the soldier's unit has transferred him to Phramongkutklao Hospital, the military hospital in Bangkok, for treatment and close observation.

The incident highlights the importance for passengers facing a serious health or mental health episode while travelling of seeking assistance from cabin crew, rather than attempting to handle an emergency alone.

No injuries or criminal action were mentioned in the ministry's statement.


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11 August 2026
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Russian woman found injured in Mae Sai scam probe

Thai police are investigating a possible transnational scam-network connection after a 19-year-old Russian woman was found injured in a car park at Lotus's Mae Sai in Chiang Rai on Sunday, August 9.

Mariia Tsygankova, a Russian national, was taken to Mae Sai Hospital after patrol officers found her with multiple injuries at about 3.45pm in the Zone A3 car park of the shopping centre in Wiang Phang Kham subdistrict.

Pol Col Jiraphas Saksung, superintendent of Mae Sai Police Station, said investigators had arranged an interpreter to conduct an initial interview with her at hospital.

Police examine alleged route through Myanmar

Information passed through the interpreter indicated that Tsygankova had left Russia to work in China, then flew to Thailand. She later travelled to Yangon in Myanmar before eventually reaching Tachileik, the Myanmar border town opposite Mae Sai.



Police are examining whether she had been enticed to Tachileik by a scam network offering highly paid work. Investigators suspect she may have realised she had been deceived after arriving there, or had refused to follow the group's instructions.

They believe she was then assaulted, taken across the Thai-Myanmar border through an unofficial crossing and abandoned at the Mae Sai shopping centre. Police stressed that these circumstances have not yet been independently established and remain under investigation.

CCTV review and embassy contact

Pol Lt Col Mekhin Kongsaeng, an investigation inspector at Mae Sai Police Station, has been assigned to work with tourist police and patrol officers to identify those involved.

Investigators are reviewing CCTV recordings in an effort to trace the people who brought Tsygankova to the area. Police have also contacted the Russian Embassy in Thailand so her family can be informed.

The woman was described as deeply distressed and frightened while being treated at Mae Sai Hospital. Officers have been assigned to provide security as the inquiry continues.

Across the border, authorities in Tachileik have continued operations against suspected scam networks and illegal online gambling operations.


Pictures courtesy of The Nation

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11 August 2026
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Aussie scientist seeks fibromyalgia care in Bangkok

Australian former PhD student Victoria Carrington is preparing to travel to Bangkok for treatment at BDMS Wellness Clinic after years of chronic pain she says began with a head injury at a university party in 2018.

The 29-year-old Australian, who has since been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, says she does not expect a miracle. Her aim is to regain enough independence to cook, shower daily, make her bed and potentially return to work.

Carrington had planned a career in fisheries management after studying marine biology and statistics. She earned several scholarships, tutored university students, worked on a fisheries research vessel and upgraded her master's degree to a PhD.

"I was extremely dedicated," she told the Daily Mail. "I was working 80-hour weeks because I loved what I was studying."

Symptoms grew after two head knocks

At a university Christmas party in December 2018, Carrington accepted a piggyback ride from a friend who had also been drinking. She was dropped on to the road and diagnosed with concussion.

She initially suffered headaches, nausea, dizziness and severe fatigue, taking two weeks away from work. But when she returned to boat work, she felt unwell after three hours and needed to lie down.



A month later, while following advice from a concussion clinic to do gentle exercise, she hit her head again during backstroke swimming. She developed an immediate migraine, followed by pins and needles across her body.

Hospital doctors ruled out a brain bleed and attributed the symptoms to concussion, she said. However, her problems worsened over the following years, including migraines, aching muscles, joint pain, nausea, digestive trouble, poor sleep and sensitivity to light, noise, temperature and air pressure.

Carrington said it took her four years to realise she was living with constant pain. After researching her symptoms herself, she was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia more than five years after they began.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, a chronic condition associated with widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems and difficulty with concentration. Researchers believe it involves changes in the way the brain and nervous system process pain, making normal sensations feel painful and heightening the intensity of existing pain. Treatment generally focuses on symptom management.

A final attempt in Bangkok

Carrington said fluorescent university lighting and the demands of study eventually forced her to leave her PhD. She now receives a disability pension and says she needs help with tasks including cooking, dressing, washing and making her bed.

She estimates that medication costs about $1,400 from her monthly $2,600 disability pension. Her application for NDIS support was unsuccessful, she said, because fibromyalgia was not accepted as the basis for funding.

After seeing specialists, physiotherapists, osteopaths and pain clinics, Carrington began looking overseas for more coordinated care. She chose BDMS Wellness Clinic in Bangkok because consultations, physiotherapy and other therapies can be arranged at one site, reducing the need for repeated journeys between appointments.

She has launched a GoFundMe campaign because she cannot afford the trip and programme herself.

"I'd like to be able to paint. I'd like to have coffee in a coffee shop," Carrington said. "I'd like to be able to cook for myself, make my bed and get dressed without help."


Picture courtesy of Daily Mail

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11 August 2026
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Hua Hin police seize 166kg of ice, detain Malaysian

Police in Hua Hin have seized about 166kg of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as ice, after stopping a BMW allegedly carrying the drugs. A 20-year-old Malaysian man was detained after the car reportedly attempted to avoid a police checkpoint.

Police said the man claimed the suitcases found in the BMW did not belong to him and that he did not know the combinations needed to open them.

Pol Gen Samran Nuanma, deputy national police chief, announced the arrest on 10 August 2026. The operation was carried out in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, by Hua Hin police led by Pol Col Kampanat Na Wichai, the station chief.

Other officers involved included Pol Lt Col Worath Krungkarnjana, deputy superintendent for prevention and suppression, Pol Lt Col Damkoeng Rueanwilai, an inspector in the same division, and Hua Hin police officers.

Stop on Hua Hin Road

The case followed an investigation into smaller-scale drug dealers in the area, police said. That work reportedly uncovered information on a larger trafficking network which was allegedly moving drugs from Suvarnabhumi Airport and using vehicles to hold the consignment before onward delivery in Hua Hin.

A police team led by Pol Capt Phutthiphat Kaosot set up a checkpoint on Hua Hin Soi 8 after receiving information that a BMW with Bangkok registration plates would enter the area carrying a large quantity of drugs.

When the BMW approached, officers said its driver appeared suspicious and tried to flee. Police followed the vehicle and stopped it outside a convenience store in Hua Hin subdistrict.

Suitcases held 166kg of drugs

The driver was identified as a 20-year-old Malaysian national. Several suitcases were found in the vehicle, but the suspect told officers they were not his property and that he did not know the codes to open them.

Police took the man and the BMW back to the checkpoint. They said the suitcases were searched with the suspect's consent and opened in his presence, revealing around 166kg of ice.

The suspect, drugs and white BMW were handed to Hua Hin police investigators for legal proceedings.

Pol Gen Samran ordered Hua Hin police to continue expanding the investigation to identify other members of the network and those involved in moving the drugs.

He said the seizure reflected the volume of narcotics still being smuggled into the country. He said Hua Hin district had seized 166kg, while Bangkok authorities had seized as much as 1,000kg, or one tonne, and said the situation could not be ignored.


Picture courtesy of Matichon

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11 August 2026
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Pattaya suspends six over tourist cash claims

Pattaya City has suspended six people from duty after complaints that tourists near Bali Hai Pier were asked to pay between 2,000 and 3,000 baht without receiving official fine documents or receipts.

The allegations concern people dressed as Pattaya City special affairs officers, who reportedly took tourists into a tent and accused them of offences including loud motorcycle exhausts and smoking. Pattaya's city secretary has stressed that while officers may have powers to detain people, they do not have authority to impose fines.

At 10.30am on 10 August 2026, Pattaya City Secretary Kiatthisak Sriwongchai said the city had learned of the complaint on 9 August and immediately opened an investigation. Those involved reported their information that morning, after which the matter was sent to the deputy mayor directly responsible and reported to the Pattaya mayor.

Six people removed from duties

Initial checks place the alleged incident at about 9am on 9 August at the Blue Zone car park at Bali Hai Pier.

Six people have been identified: three Pattaya City personnel, including three municipal enforcement officers shown in images, plus three outsourced workers hired by the city to help maintain order in the area.

All six have been temporarily removed from their assigned duties while the facts are examined. A reporter who visited the area said they saw operations taking place and filmed a tourist placing cash on an officials' table. However, it remains unconfirmed whether the money was a fine or paid for another purpose.

Pattaya City will take two tracks: the responsible department head will prepare a record for a police complaint if criminal wrongdoing is found, while a fact-finding committee will be appointed under official procedures.

Although such inquiries can normally take up to 60 days and be extended twice, city management has instructed officials to finish this one within around two weeks. The contractor employing the outsourced workers will also be called in, while state officials involved may be transferred away from their current area during the process.

Exhaust noise is not a city fine

Kiatthisak said enforcement over loud motorcycle exhausts is not directly Pattaya City's responsibility. Such cases must be handled under relevant laws, including the Public Nuisance Act or Motor Vehicle Act, by agencies with the authority to do so, notably police and the Department of Land Transport.

The investigation will therefore focus on whether the cash demands were made under legal authority, whether proper paperwork or receipts were issued, and what status any money paid to the officials had.

For foreign residents and visitors, the case is a reminder to ask for official documentation for any alleged fine and to be cautious about handing over cash without a receipt. Pattaya City said reports of similar conduct can be made to its 1337 hotline.

Kiatthisak apologised to residents and tourists, saying the city has consistently instructed its staff to act properly and does not want official conduct to cause hardship or damage Pattaya's tourism image. The city said no final finding has yet been made on whether unlawful collection of money occurred.


Picture courtesy of แจ็ค โพธิ์แดง

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11 August 2026
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Israelis' Thai citizenship cases face Interior Ministry probe

Thailand's Interior Ministry has confirmed that Israeli nationals, including individuals described as business executives and religious leaders, were granted Thai citizenship more than 10 years ago.

Deputy Interior Minister Pholphir Suwanchawee said on 9 August that officials had found more than one such case and were now conducting a retrospective investigation into whether the citizenship process was legally correct.

The names and further details cannot yet be released because inquiries are still under way, he said.

Ministry examines old citizenship approvals

The review follows claims on a popular social-media page that a network of Israeli people had obtained Thai nationality and Thai national identity cards.

Pholphir said the initial check had established that the individuals in question did genuinely hold Thai citizenship, acquired more than a decade earlier.

At the time their applications were considered, he said, officials would presumably have had documents and evidence that led them to conclude the applicants were qualified for citizenship. However, the Interior Ministry must now look back at whether every part of the process complied with the law.

"Whatever nationality they hold, if they do anything illegal, they will ultimately face legal action," Pholphir said.

Chabad connection and company scrutiny

The deputy minister also addressed reports that those granted citizenship were directors of Chabad, a Jewish religious organisation.

He said they were not Chabad directors, but directors of a company that owns premises where a Chabad facility is located. The company had been registered in the form of another company with nominee characteristics, he said, prompting the investigation.

Authorities are following up on both potentially illegal business operations and financial flows, Pholphir added.

No names have been published and no findings of wrongdoing have been announced. The ministry says its review and investigation must be completed before further details can be disclosed.

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11 August 2026
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Thailand sex work reform calls grow after murder

Thailand's sex trade remains illegal, but its presence is highly visible from Soi Cowboy in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area to Pattaya's Walking Street, where nightlife businesses continue to draw visitors from around the world.

The issue has again come under scrutiny following the case of an Australian man who murdered a 17-year-old Thai teenager, putting the safety of sex workers and Thailand's night-time economy in the spotlight.

A large and visible informal economy

Thailand has long been linked with sex tourism, particularly in Pattaya, despite tourism authorities repeatedly distancing themselves from that market as they promote the country as a premium destination for higher-spending travellers.

Surang Janyam, director of the Service Workers in Group Foundation, known as Swing, said the country has more than 200,000 sex workers. The majority are in Bangkok and Pattaya, she said.

Swing is a non-profit organisation which promotes equal rights and provides education and healthcare for service workers. Ms Surang said the industry did not slow down after the pandemic, even though many entertainment venues shut their doors.

Some workers moved from venues to freelance work advertised through social media platforms, she said. Swing has also observed that the workforce is becoming more diverse in gender, reflecting changing demand.

Pattaya is estimated to be home to more than 50,000 sex workers. The scale of its night-time economy is believed to generate between 100 billion and 200 billion baht each year, with Walking Street widely seen as the centre of the city's sex industry.

"Sex workers are part of the tourism sector. They provide services to tourists, who also travel to other parts of the city and take part in a range of other activities," Ms Surang said.

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Association of the Chonburi Tourism Federation, said tourism operators were trying to market Pattaya as a family-oriented destination, but could not deny the existence of sex work.

He said some entertainment venues and massage parlours were known to covertly offer sexual services. That grey area, he argued, creates opportunities for officials to demand bribes or extort money from workers.

Arrests fall as calls for reform grow

Royal Thai Police data show that 19,648 people were arrested for offences under the prostitution law in 2023, down from 38,139 arrests in 2022.

Ms Surang said the illegal status of sex work leaves workers effectively outside the formal employment system and wider economy, without meaningful power to negotiate their livelihoods.

"The law treats them merely as objects rather than human beings entitled to certain rights," she said.

She said Thailand's reputation as being open to foreign tourists was reflected in abuse and crimes against sex workers reported in the media. Swing works with workers who have been assaulted or abused by clients, helping them coordinate with police to seek arrests and prosecutions.

The foundation helped the family of a transgender woman who was murdered and mutilated to coordinate the case through to trial and an order for compensation. It also assisted the family of the teenager murdered by the Australian man.

Ms Surang said police had become more aware of issues affecting sex workers and their broader social impact. Officers were now less likely to view workers purely as criminals or pursue excessive or exaggerated charges against them, she said.

Swing regularly brings police officers and sex workers together in Pattaya workshops intended to improve understanding and reduce conflict.

Under the 2022 Act on the Imposition of Regulatory Fines, offences under Section 5 of the prostitution law are punishable only by fines and are no longer treated as criminal offences. Authority to impose the fines was transferred from police to officials under the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

In many cases, Ms Surang said, workers may be ordered to perform community service rather than serve a prison sentence.

Zoning proposal divides campaigners

Swing wants the 1996 law abolished, decriminalising sex work for people aged 18 and over. Ms Surang said this would allow workers to receive labour protection, join the social security system, access welfare and pay taxes.

She argued that stronger state oversight would also help reduce crimes against sex workers. However, Swing said a major challenge after decriminalisation would be training law enforcement and administrative officials to work under a new system.

"Decriminalising sex work does not necessarily mean that more people will choose to enter the profession," Ms Surang said, adding that anti-human-trafficking laws could still be enforced to protect minors and people coerced into sex work.

While waiting for the law to be repealed, Swing is seeking a ministerial regulation guaranteeing fair wages, social welfare and labour rights for workers.

Mr Thanet instead proposed a designated red-light district with zoning and regulated oversight, similar to systems in other countries. He said this would limit the effect on visitors who do not want to encounter such activity, while improving safety and Pattaya's wider brand image.

Ms Surang disagreed, saying a restricted zone could increase bribery and corruption if uncertainty remained over services outside the approved area.

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11 August 2026
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Customs, Korat Post seize illicit cigarettes

Chong Chom Customs and the Nakhon Ratchasima Postal Centre have seized more than 15,000 illicit cigarettes cartons, valued at around 14.5 million baht in operations across three provinces in lower northeastern Thailand.

The joint campaign, named "This Month, No Smoking", targeted suspected postal deliveries during the long holiday period at the end of July. Customs said the cigarettes were stopped before they could be distributed in Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram and Surin.

Joint operation targets postal deliveries

Prasit Dee-jongcharoen, head of Chong Chom Customs House, said the operation followed government instructions to intensify action against all forms of smuggled goods.

The wider policy is intended to improve tax collection, ensure fairness for legitimate businesses and protect the public from products which could affect health and create longer-term costs for the healthcare system, he said.



Customs Department director-general Phanthong Loykulnunt, deputy director-general Suntareeya Thawichaprasit and Lalita Attapimon, director of Customs Region 2, instructed Chong Chom Customs to strengthen enforcement in its areas of responsibility.

These cover Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram and Surin provinces.

Intelligence led to the seizures

Mr Prasit said officers analysed intelligence, watched suspicious behaviour and tracked high-risk delivery routes before coordinating with Somkiat Khamphila, head of the Nakhon Ratchasima Postal Centre, and assistant head Nawin Promchim.

The two agencies then carried out continuing inspections and arrests under the operation, resulting in the interception of the cigarettes.

"The alarming point in this case, apart from the enormous quantity of illicit cigarettes, is that preliminary checks found that almost all were counterfeit," Mr Prasit said.

"Moreover, because of the unusual smuggling methods and the fairly long transport time, most of the goods had started to develop mould."

He said Customs would continue working at full capacity to protect people in the lower Northeast from being deceived by online illicit-cigarette sellers, in line with government and Customs Department policy.

Travellers and expatriates should be cautious of unusually cheap tobacco offered online, particularly where there is no clear lawful retailer or reliable information on storage and origin. The customs warning points not only to possible counterfeit goods but also to the condition in which products may arrive after being moved through unofficial supply routes.


Pictures courtesy of naewna

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10 August 2026
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Thai couple held over cross border scam cases

Thai cybercrime police have arrested a Thai couple accused of running parts of an online shopping scam network linked to 601 cases and losses exceeding 23 million baht.

The suspects, identified as 27-year-old Chatchai and 31-year-old Suparat, were detained on 9 August as they returned to Thailand from Laos following an investigation with Chiang Saen Immigration.

Police said the pair had been wanted after an earlier operation against the "Style Cycle" network, which allegedly lured people into opening online shops before demanding repeated payments that could not be withdrawn.

Alleged roles in cross-border network

Chatchai told investigators he had worked as a manager for a scam gang led by a Chinese national, initially based in Cambodia from mid-2025 before moving to Laos, police said.

He allegedly oversaw the creation of fraudulent platforms, sourced bank accounts used to receive victims' money and coordinated team leaders who spoke to victims and persuaded them to transfer funds.



Suparat was allegedly an administrator who located prospective victims, held initial conversations with them and passed them to team leaders for further deception.

Police say the operation had a complete structure, covering the preparation of scam tools, victim recruitment, money collection and management of the proceeds.

The couple face charges including jointly defrauding the public, fraud by impersonation, entering false or distorted computer data likely to cause public harm, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and participation in a secret society.

How the Style Cycle scheme allegedly worked

According to the Technology Crime Suppression Division, the group advertised through social media for people interested in selling products online. Those who responded were brought into Line chat groups and directed to websites designed to appear credible.

After victims opened shops on the platforms, supposed customers would place orders. The gang would then allegedly claim that shop registration, greater visibility, credit-building or system top-ups were required before sales proceeds could be received or withdrawn.

One group of victims transferred money 25 times, losing more than 14 million baht, but were ultimately unable to withdraw anything, police said.

Links to earlier raids

Police raided 19 locations across 11 provinces on 15 and 16 July 2026, arresting 17 people. The suspects included alleged controllers and money launderers, cash handlers and people accused of providing mule accounts. Assets worth more than 23 million baht were seized.

Investigators later identified 548 bank accounts used to receive transfers. Checks against Thailand's online reporting system linked the accounts and websites to another 601 cases, with losses of more than 23 million baht.

The reported methods included fake call-centre claims, false online job offers, fraudulent online loans, bogus stock-trading investments and hybrid scams.


Pictures courtesy of Matichon

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10 August 2026


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Myanmar crewman found floating at Sattahip naval pier

The body of a 50-year-old Myanmar fishing crewman has been recovered at Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri, four days after he fell from a fishing boat while nets were being deployed.

Lay Oo was found floating face-down near the bow of the naval vessel Similan, No. 871, which was moored at Chuk Samet Pier at Sattahip Port, within the Sattahip Naval Base, at 10am on 9 August 2026.

Police Sub-Lieutenant Anuphan Hongkiatkhajorn, an investigating officer at Sattahip Police Station, was notified of the discovery. He attended the scene with Acting Captain Kongkrit Homtalop, head of Chuk Samet Pier; Police Lieutenant Colonel Kriangkrai Misaeng, deputy superintendent of investigations at Sattahip Police Station; investigators, naval base intelligence personnel and the Sattahip rescue unit.

The rescue team used a boat to retrieve the body before bringing it ashore at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club of Thailand launching point in Dongtan Bay, Sattahip.

Crewman fell overboard during netting

Police identified the deceased as Lay Oo, a Myanmar national and crewman on the fishing boat Saeng Charoen Kan Pramong 5.



He was not wearing a shirt and was dressed in blue shorts. Officers said there were no visible signs that he had been assaulted.

The man went overboard at about 7.10pm on 5 August while the boat was setting its nets at latitude 12 degrees 34 minutes north and longitude 100 degrees 44 minutes east.

The location was around 11 nautical miles from the Laem Pu Chao lighthouse at Sattahip Naval Base. Lay Oo reportedly slipped from the starboard side of the vessel, in front of the wheelhouse towards the bow, and disappeared into the sea.

Waves were more than one metre high at the time. Crew members searched for him, joined by the fishing vessels Saeng Charoen Kan Pramong 8 and 9, but were unable to locate him.

Post-mortem and identity checks underway

Lay Oo's body later drifted to the moored Similan, where it was spotted by personnel on 9 August.

Police Sub-Lieutenant Anuphan said the body had been sent to Sattahip Hospital at Km 10 for a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death. Officials will also formally verify that the deceased is Lay Oo, as initially reported.

Once procedures are complete, police will contact his relatives so that they can take the body.


Pictures courtesy of SiamRath

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10 August 2026
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