Report Civil Servant's Tragic Act Sparks Loan Shark Debate

[webfact]

Pcture courtesy of Naewna

 

In a heart-wrenching scene outside the Mae Sariang district office, a 58-year-old community developer, identified only as Ms. Kanya, set herself ablaze in a desperate plea against crippling loan shark debts.

 

This afternoon's tragic event unfolded as loan sharks evicted her from her home. Local newspaper Naewna reports the harrowing incident left witnesses in shock.

 

Ms. Kanya had contacted a reporter to meet her, handing over documents detailing her plight before dousing herself in oil and igniting it with a lighter. Attempts to stop her failed as Volunteer Defence Corps and district staff rushed to extinguish the flames that consumed her upper body and face.

 

Despite severe injuries, emergency responders swiftly transferred her from Mae Sariang Hospital to a facility in Chiang Mai for critical care.

 

 

 

Within her documents, Ms. Kanya appealed to TV personality Kanchai Kamnerdploi, known as Noom Kanchai, requesting his help to construct a modest home for her elderly mother.

 

The papers revealed a pending, yet unapproved loan from the Government Housing Bank and highlighted her struggle against hefty loan shark interest rates of 3 to 5% per month, culminating in the loss of her property with eviction looming the next day.

 

Fearful of alarming her mother due to her advanced age, Ms. Kanya kept her burdens hidden. Meanwhile, Mae Sariang District Chief Mr. Worasak Phanthong has collaborated with police and municipal officials to investigate the circumstances and pursue legal recourse.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom

 

-- 2025-04-21

 

 

[JoePai]

So very sad - hunt these loan sharks down and kill them, slowly 

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Pcture courtesy of Naewna

 

In a heart-wrenching scene outside the Mae Sariang district office, a 58-year-old community developer, identified only as Ms. Kanya, set herself ablaze in a desperate plea against crippling loan shark debts.

 

This afternoon's tragic event unfolded as loan sharks evicted her from her home. Local newspaper Naewna reports the harrowing incident left witnesses in shock.

 

Ms. Kanya had contacted a reporter to meet her, handing over documents detailing her plight before dousing herself in oil and igniting it with a lighter. Attempts to stop her failed as Volunteer Defence Corps and district staff rushed to extinguish the flames that consumed her upper body and face.

 

Despite severe injuries, emergency responders swiftly transferred her from Mae Sariang Hospital to a facility in Chiang Mai for critical care.

 

 

 

Within her documents, Ms. Kanya appealed to TV personality Kanchai Kamnerdploi, known as Noom Kanchai, requesting his help to construct a modest home for her elderly mother.

 

The papers revealed a pending, yet unapproved loan from the Government Housing Bank and highlighted her struggle against hefty loan shark interest rates of 3 to 5% per month, culminating in the loss of her property with eviction looming the next day.

 

Fearful of alarming her mother due to her advanced age, Ms. Kanya kept her burdens hidden. Meanwhile, Mae Sariang District Chief Mr. Worasak Phanthong has collaborated with police and municipal officials to investigate the circumstances and pursue legal recourse.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom

 

-- 2025-04-21

 

 

But she borrowed the money voluntarily, didn't she?😕

[bogozy]

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

So very sad - hunt these loan sharks down and kill them, slowly 

I mean, there was somebody, forcing her to turn the loan sharks?  No. She asked for loans, by herself.

I see a lot of local people no want to save money, sometimes lazy go tó work, and ask loans. 

They are buy much more, then their income.

The financial balance are continually negative. 

 They cover the old loan, by a new loan. At last the deposit  run out.

The creditor take away the plantation field, the car, the house.

Nobody are educating the people, take responsibility of financial matters.

The big part of friendly loan are lost forever. Never paid back.

 

 

[ronster]

How could they evict her unless she had legitimately signed paperwork at a land office that they could take her home if she didn't pay  ?

In which case they are doing what other finance companies do but just charging higher rates.

[digger70]

19 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

But she borrowed the money voluntarily, didn't she?😕

Yep,,, one can't fix stupid.

[Denim]

56 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

But she borrowed the money voluntarily, didn't she?😕

  Unfortunately , civil servants are sometimes prone to living beyond their means since they have a secure government job and pension , plus other perks.  Because of this they are seen as a low credit risk and can borrow money easier than other people which leads them to take on more debt than they can cope with. Where I used to live a married couple , both civil servants , commited suicide in the middle of one of their fields. They appeared to be rich , with big house , nice car etc but it was all a facade propped up by millions of baht of debt.

[Jimjim1]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

But she borrowed the money voluntarily, didn't she?😕

Yes true BUT if the banks were a little bit more caring and helpful these people would not have to go to loan sharks, and if governments were not so disinterested they would ensure that lessons in finance would be taught in schools, We all know that if you give the average Thai 1000 baht he / she will spend 2,000 and wonder why they are in debt

[newbee2022]

42 minutes ago, Jimjim1 said:

Yes true BUT if the banks were a little bit more caring and helpful these people would not have to go to loan sharks, and if governments were not so disinterested they would ensure that lessons in finance would be taught in schools, We all know that if you give the average Thai 1000 baht he / she will spend 2,000 and wonder why they are in debt

There is a ancient rule: you can spent only what you earn. 

 

[Jimjim1]

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

There is an ancient rule: you can spent only what you earn. 

Agreed but the Thais are never taught this and that is the problem

[newbee2022]

Just now, Jimjim1 said:

Agreed but the Thais are never taught this and that is the problem

100% right 👍 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The papers revealed a pending, yet unapproved loan from the Government Housing Bank and highlighted her struggle against hefty loan shark interest rates of 3 to 5% per month, culminating in the loss of her property with eviction looming the next day.

Meanwhile the PTP say the economy is doing okay, Songkran brought in billions and the elite are still making huge profits.

How about cascading some of it down to the poorer end.

 

[CM Dad]

"Money must serve, not rule!"

Pope Francis

[Tequila makes me happy]

1 hour ago, CM Dad said:

"Money must serve, not rule!"

Pope Francis

From the leader of the world's wealthiest institution and biggest landowner that also happens to own a bank and a country.

Oh the irony....

[LeRoux]

1 hour ago, Tequila makes me happy said:

From the leader of the world's wealthiest institution and biggest landowner that also happens to own a bank and a country.

Oh the irony....

All of that Wealth in the Church didn't buy him an extra day after Easter.

[ujayujay]

Death sentence for Loan Sharks .....same they do in China👍

[Scouse123]

9 hours ago, ronster said:

How could they evict her unless she had legitimately signed paperwork at a land office that they could take her home if she didn't pay  ?

In which case they are doing what other finance companies do but just charging higher rates.

 

There is a maximum rate on borrowing money; over that limit, it is illegal and rightly called loan sharking.

 

At this point, the government bodies can intervene. It was supposed to be getting overhauled under Prayuth.

 

All too often, they have been turned down by normal lending sources.

 

Yes, sure, it's poor education, unable to manage money, call it what you want. Plenty of people in the world can't manage their money.

 

However, it's a desperate state of affairs to set fire to yourself, and I feel sorry for her, to think there was no other way out.

[Scouse123]

9 hours ago, digger70 said:

Yep,,, one can't fix stupid.

 

She may not be stupid, she may have been simply desperate.

[Scouse123]

9 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

But she borrowed the money voluntarily, didn't she?😕

 

 

Yes,

 

I can see,

 

You are all heart with a post like that.

[digger70]

6 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

She may not be stupid, she may have been simply desperate.

If desperate , borrowing from a shark makes it worse.