Crime Lamphun Man Makes Thousands of Hoax Calls to Emergency Services Due to Stress & Unemployment

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

A man in Lamphun has been found to be placing an astonishing 3,000 to 4,000 nuisance calls per month to the emergency hotline 191, using the service as a way to relieve stress. Authorities opted not to arrest him, choosing instead to offer assistance and emotional support.

 

Pol. Lt. Col. Ketmanee Sripanya, an inspector with the Lamphun Provincial Police’s Special Patrol and Operations Division, revealed that the number of prank or nuisance calls to the emergency number had surged recently, with this single individual responsible for the vast majority of them.

 

The man, whose identity has been withheld, was found to be living in Ban Tha Lo, Ban Klang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Lamphun Province. He resides with his elderly, bedridden mother and has reportedly been under intense psychological strain due to long-term unemployment and caregiving responsibilities.

 

Authorities from Lamphun Police, the 191 Emergency Centre, the Sawang Nakhon Lamphun Rescue Unit and local officers visited the man’s residence after tracing the repeated calls made not only to 191 but also to 1669, the medical emergency hotline. They discovered that the man had been calling emergency services while slightly intoxicated, not with malicious intent, but to “vent” and engage in conversation due to loneliness and stress.

 

Pol. Lt. Col. Ketmanee offered guidance on the correct use of emergency numbers and issued a formal warning. Officers chose a compassionate approach, recording the incident and providing the man and his mother with essential supplies and encouragement in hopes of improving their circumstances.

 

Under Thai law, misuse of emergency lines can result in a fine of up to 10,000 baht, a jail sentence of up to one month, or both, in accordance with the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Operations Act (amended Section 34/5). Authorities stressed that such calls can obstruct genuine emergency responses and potentially put lives at risk.

 

Officials are reminding the public that 191 and 1669 are for real emergencies only and must not be used for personal frustrations or casual conversations.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-06-26