CIB arrests former Thai consular officer for falsifying visas at Suvarnabhumi Airport

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

BANGKOK: -- The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Royal Thai Police, led by Lieutenant General Chiraphop Puridech, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, ordered the arrest of a former Thai consular officer involved in visa forgery at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

The arrest was made Wednesday, May 17, at the immigration checkpoint of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, reported Siam Rath.

 

The incident dates back to June-September 2013 when the suspect, who was employed as a temporary worker abroad, held the position of a domestic servant at the embassy of the People's Republic of China in Beijing.

 

During that time, the suspect was involved in the production of counterfeit visa stamps for a group of Chinese students who intended to study at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

 

The suspect, instead of issuing temporary stay visas, issued tourist visas to the students. Subsequently, the group of students arrived in Thailand to pursue their studies. After a while, it was discovered that the Chinese students had applied for temporary stay visas but had been issued tourist visas.

 

The university's director then contacted the Thai embassy in Beijing to verify the passports and visa stamps of the students. The investigation revealed that the visa stamps provided by the suspect were forged, and the students' visas were incorrectly labeled as tourist visas instead of temporary stay visas.

 

Based on the suspect's actions, it is believed that the suspect may have received financial benefits from the difference in visa fees between temporary stay visas and tourist visas, reported Siam Rath (updated).

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

This constitutes an act of misconduct as a state official, as it disregarded the proper execution of duties and abused the authority of the position. It caused harm to individuals and involved the intentional neglect or improper performance of duties, forgery of official documents, and falsification of visa stamps used for international travel. The arrest took place at the immigration checkpoint of Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the suspect was apprehended.

 

Due to the suspect's status as a government official, there were concerns that they may pose a flight risk and escape the legal process.

 

Therefore, authorities coordinated with the Immigration Bureau to monitor the suspect's entry into the country. Subsequently, the arresting officers conducted a thorough investigation and identified that the suspect intended to enter Thailand through the immigration checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

Consequently, the police officers stationed at the airport closely observed the situation and successfully apprehended the suspect, a Thai man matching the physical description of the wanted individual.

 

The suspect identified himself as a police officer but was promptly arrested before being taken for questioning by the Crime Suppression Division to proceed with legal actions.

 

Based on the suspect's actions, it is believed that the suspect may have benefited financially from the difference in visa fees between the two types of visas, as the fees for temporary student visas are higher than those for tourist visas. Therefore, this constitutes a violation of official duties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a committee to examine the aforementioned facts and has summoned the suspect for questioning.

 

The suspect has admitted to the committee that he was involved in the issuance of the fraudulent visas to the Chinese students and was the person responsible for applying the immigration stamps.

 

As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has filed a formal complaint with the police to proceed with the legal proceedings.

 

Subsequently, the investigating officers, who wore plainclothes, monitored the suspect's arrival in Thailand through the immigration checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

Upon noticing that the Thai suspect matched the description of the wanted individual, they identified themselves as police officers and made the arrest.

 

The suspect was then handed over to the officers from the Crime Suppression Division for further investigation. During the initial questioning, the suspect consistently denied all allegations made against him.

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-05-18

 

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[webfact]

Chinese man arrested in Thailand for deceiving Chinese students
by Petch Petpailin 

 

Photo via Facebook/ สำนักข่าวราชการ

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) arrested a Chinese man, previously employed at the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, for participating in unlawful activities connected to visa issuance.

The arrest was made today by the Immigration Bureau and other relevant RTP officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The Chinese man was identified as Tee and reported to be a former administrator at the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing.

The RTP reported that nine Chinese students applied to study at the Durakij Pundit University in Bangkok and applied for a non-immigration visa at the embassy.

 

Due to the high cost associated with this particular visa, Tee devised a plan to swindle money from these students. Instead of granting them the requested non-immigration visas, Tee issued them tourist visas, which carried a lower fee and pocketed the excess payment for himself.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/chinese-man-arrested-in-thailand-for-deceiving-chinese-students

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-18

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[Pink Mist]

An off topic post has been removed.

[hotchilli]

The usual specter of corruption rears it's head.

[geisha]

He could have made a lot of money over all those years. And maybe not only to bona fide students.,

[PETERTHEEATER]

It's taken ten years to chase this down? And why would a Thai 'state official' be working as a domestic servant in a foreign country. Why would there be an Embassy of China in Beijing? ????

[The Old Bull]

Kept all the cash without passing any up the chain, thats a no no.