Crime Immigration Files Legal Complaint Against Chinese National for Filming Airport Officials

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Immigration authorities have taken legal action against a Chinese national who secretly filmed officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport, allegedly to produce misleading social media content suggesting money could be used to bypass immigration procedures.

 

The video, which has gone viral on Chinese social media platforms, features a man documenting his entry into Thailand. In the clip, he narrates in Chinese, claiming to show “how to enter Thailand” while commenting that immigration procedures were “now stricter.” Footage includes images of Immigration officers, baggage claim areas and scenes outside the airport. At one point, the man implies that “with some money, the staff will help you get through,” and that in Thailand, such services are common, despite a “minor language barrier.”

 

Text was also superimposed in Thai stating: “To work in Thailand without a visa, one must have connections with the Immigration Bureau.”

 

Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimphadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2, confirmed on 9 June, that action has been taken. He said Pol Lt Col Eknarin Chanthamattharapaskul, Deputy Inspector of the Immigration Entry Division at Suvarnabhumi Airport, had been identified in the clip.

 

Lt Col Eknarin reported that he had merely assisted a Chinese tourist who claimed to be unable to complete the online arrival form (TDAC) due to language difficulties. After helping with the form, the tourist asked to be expedited due to time constraints, and the officer passed the passport for standard screening before returning to his duties.

 

Unbeknownst to him, the tourist was filming covertly from behind and later edited the footage, overlaying misleading narration. Immigration authorities say this caused reputational harm and misrepresented Thailand’s immigration procedures.

 

Pol Maj Gen Choengron stated that the department has recently become more stringent in screening visa-free arrivals, especially from countries where there have been patterns of misuse. From January to May 2025, over 8,000 foreign nationals were refused entry, with a noticeable number of Chinese nationals using social media “challenges” or paid content to claim improper access to Thai immigration services.

 

Authorities view the incident as part of a wider trend of foreign influencers or agents seeking to promote illegal entry or business facilitation through misrepresented ties with immigration officials.

 

On 9 June, Lt Col Eknarin filed a formal complaint at Suvarnabhumi Police Station against the Chinese man, citing defamation through advertising. Immigration officials have also initiated procedures to revoke the man’s visa/permission to stay and blacklist him as a prohibited person.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-10

 

 

 

[blaze master]

26 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

allegedly to produce misleading social media content suggesting money could be used to bypass immigration procedures.

 

 

Is it really misleading though. 

[ikke1959]

Illegal activities must not be shown on social media....Immigration, if nothing to hide, should not be afraid of such posts, but we all know how it works...so it must stay hidden

[Gottfrid]

Ops! Must have been something really bad on that video. 

[hellohello123]

🤣

Typical of thai/many asian cultures

 

Get caught behaving badly,

Sue/chase after the person instead of defending your actions

[Mavideol]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

suggesting money could be used to bypass immigration procedures.

one thing I learned by living in Thailand is "never ever said the truth" it will get you into trouble

[spidermike007]

Egg on the face can be a terrible thing, but shame and humiliation are two things that can create positive change here, and they are some of the only ways you can actually get through to the officials.

 

Social media can be a very powerful tool, and the government is simply showing how guilty they are by going after these people. People who pursue defamation cases are almost always, without fail, very very guilty. Shame on these fools. 

[ignore it]

Immigration officials note that there is no "tipping fee" to expedite your entry into Thailand.

They also a note that there is a cash only, no refund policy.

[wensiensheng]

Surely this has already backfired. I never knew anything about this and now, because of this law case, I do. So they have promoted publicity over something they didn’t want publicized.

 

I wonder if the Chinese guy is still in Thailand. If he isn’t, it makes the law case more silly

 

Oh well, I doubt we’ll hear any more about it anyway. These things seem to just disappear without any visible conclusion

[hotchilli]

Must be all a misunderstanding, immigration would never do such a thing... 

just like the multiple agents that help with people getting visa's at the immigration office.

[terryofcrete]

Inviting trouble isn't a great idea. Whoever posted this should expect to be set upon and burdened with multiple difficulties . So sayeth the soothsayers. 

[bluemoon58]

You naughty, naughty Chinese man! How dare you publicise something that pretty much every adult in Thailand knows "is not true"! 😉

[G Rex]

 

6 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Surely this has already backfired. I never knew anything about this and now, because of this law case, I do. So they have promoted publicity over something they didn’t want publicized.

 

Unless you follow Chinese (and Thai) social media, it is very unlikely to have known about it!  They couldn't give a hoot about your response - it is the millions of Chinese reading his posts on social media that concern Immigration .

[quake]

If you want to get to the starting point of corruption in Thailand.

Just start with government employees.

[Caldera]

Great job, they give the Chinese tourist and his claims even more publicity.

 

I think most people will have a pretty good idea which side is more credible...

[Baba Naba]

8 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Is it really misleading though. 

 

    Well for my yearly retirement visa, they would not accept my "credit advise's" for my income but they did accept 15k to turn a blind eye!  Also they never answer their phones or answer their emails! Am I gonna get sued now? 

[zackxx]

9 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Is it really misleading though. 

Probably. The extent "digital nomads" will go to making fake claims/videos, lies, to get those view counts and therefore $$$

[smew]

corruption from very top to very bottom is a way of life in LOS:

some time ago, having visa on arrival status: in one year period I came to Thailand 5 times and the airport passport controller extorted 1000baht or he would not allow me in because he insisted I needed a visa after 4 arrivals per year.

LAter contacted Thai embassy and was told visa was not required..  

[Paul Henry]

A LT/ Col and Deputy Inspector helps Chinese tourist fill out paperwork.Wonder what the non coms do all day?

[crazykopite]

Immigration would never do anything corrupt I used to ask for receipts of various payments made at the local immigration office all I got was a smile , shrug of the shoulders or no have receipt book !

[Cat Boy]

In so many cases these anti-defamation lawsuits go overboard to the extent of making those who post a neutral or slightly negative review of a restaurant or hotel subject to civil and criminal liability. 

 

Such was so often the case when, during the Covid-19 inquisition, travelers were obliged to stay quarantined in sub-standard conditions with unclean bedding and roaches in meals slipped under the door without recourse, and subsequently sued. 

 

In this case however, Immigration has every right to push back against deliberate misrepresentation and disinformation. 

 

Yes, transparency is good, but deliberate misinformation harms everyone 

[renaissanc]

Here is an example of someone so stupid that hopefully he does not spread his DNA to anyone else. He deserves to be jailed and then blacklisted. In my 41 years here, I have never experienced corruption in the Immigration Department. Even if it exists, I wouldn't go on social media and make the kind of statement that this idiot has done.

[Aussie999]

Here's how I see it, first Chinese media has already posted the video... second, now Chinese media will highlight the problem of posting the truth.

Immigration already concerned about the drop in Chinese tourists, and now they do this....555...just have to shake me head.

[Aussie999]

12 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

Here is an example of someone so stupid that hopefully he does not spread his DNA to anyone else. He deserves to be jailed and then blacklisted. In my 41 years here, I have never experienced corruption in the Immigration Department. Even if it exists, I wouldn't go on social media and make the kind of statement that this idiot has done.

Damn, you're a hard case

[mushroomdave]

" Immigration officials have also initiated procedures to revoke the man’s visa/permission to stay and blacklist him as a prohibited person. "

 

So how is he supposed to attend his defamation court appearances then?   

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

 

[Arthur Mullard]

Great news - anything to remind Thai people why their Chinese cousins share a deep sense of reverence and spiritual commonality with them, and will export five thousand years of virtuous, unblemished history into Thai culture. Thumbs up. 

[Purdey]

Immigration needs to be careful. If the uploaded video was an edited version there may be a lot more evidence that would embarrass them in court.

[Cat Boy]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Social media can be a very powerful tool,...... 

... of lies, misinformation and malicious disinformation 

 

Lies, repeated often and loud enough are soon believed by a gullible, poorly educated public 

 

Innocent Chinese tourist wrongly advised, thinking it prudent to offer a bit of tea money to grease the wheels of immigration will soon find themselves in the pokey, then deported, banned for life, holiday turned misery 

[Gknrd]

I always wonder what Thailand is ?  By the looks of it, it is a Socialist country trying to portray itself as democratic.  What ever it is it is not working.

[Srikcir]

Legally, Immigration's legal complaint is more of a Civil complaint versus a Criminal complaint. In Thailand both can exist simultaneously.

The criminal complaint could be alleged violation of the The Computer-Related Crime Act of 2017. Often invoked as an added charge in defamation cases, as many defamation charges were based on internet postings or comments.

The CCA includes using computer systems to disseminate false information or engage in cyber bullying that can lead to significant harm and disruption.

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=2f7b4259-5f38-47f7-8464-d03f08227ee1

As a practical legal decision, better the accused resolve the defamation complaint to avoid pile on of criminal charges.