Crime The Double Life of Dr. Air: Crime, Power, and the Collapse of a Thai Icon

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Picture courtesy of Thai PBS World

 

Pol Colonel Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal, once hailed as a promising figure in the Thai police, has seen her illustrious career unravel in dramatic fashion.

 

Known affectionately as Dr Air, her arrest on June 10 has rocked many, as she stands accused of leading a vast network distributing illegal "knock-out" drugs, commonly linked to heinous crimes such as date rape.

 

Authorities allege that Anchulee masterminded a sprawling operation, utilising fake clinics, counterfeit prescriptions, and even ties with Chinese crime syndicates.

 

Following her arrest, striking evidence of a money trail surfaced, reportedly showing over 400 million baht flowing through her illicit activities.

 

The fallen police figure, previously a celebrated psychiatrist at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok, was dismissed from her post immediately after charges were laid.

 

Her distinguished public image, which shone bright during her tenure as a police spokesperson, has now been overshadowed by scandal, leading to her silence and refusal of bail amidst serious allegations. Meanwhile, her two children find themselves under the care of her mother as the public reels from the news.

 

Anchulee's past serves as a harsh juxtaposition to her current predicament. Born to political figures in Surin, she pursued an esteemed academic path, earning degrees in medicine before carving out a niche as both a media personality and lecturer. Her accolades, including a Ministry of Culture award, signified her strong public influence.

 

Yet, Anchulee's life was not free of turmoil. From losing her role as spokesperson to a public spat with a celebrity over a romantic link, her career had experienced crests and troughs.

 

Despite her legal victory in the defamation case, her reputation was subjected to intense scrutiny and online backlash.

 

Her descent accelerated through a series of controversial incidents, including promoting birth tourism to the US, a practice frowned upon for its ethical implications.

 

In 2022, accusations also emerged regarding her role in allegedly soliciting bribes to assist dubious Chinese businessmen with visa acquisitions. This matter remains unresolved in the legal system.

 

As the legal proceedings against her unfold, Dr Anchulee Theerawongpaisal’s story leaves an indelible mark on Thai society, a stark reminder of how rapidly acclaim can dissolve into infamy under the cloud of illicit enterprise.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-06-19

 

 

 

[Andytheburiramman]

Wonder who she upset 🤔