Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A former subcontractor hired to cut off electricity supplies has been arrested on Koh Samui for impersonating a Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) official and scamming foreign residents out of claimed unpaid electricity fees.

 

Pol Col Denduang Thongsrisuk, Superintendent of Bo Phut Police Station, confirmed the arrest of 37-year-old Mr Karnnithi, originally from Nakhon Sawan, who had been residing with his family in Moo 3, Ang Thong subdistrict, Koh Samui district, Surat Thani province.

 

The case emerged after Mr Dmitry Sotnik, a Russian businessman, filed a complaint on 11 July stating that a Thai man claiming to be from the PEA visited his home on 2 July. The man told Mr Sotnik that his electricity would be disconnected due to two months of unpaid bills. Believing the claim to be legitimate, Mr Sotnik transferred 26,000 baht to the man, who promised to submit the payment the following day. However, after checking with the local electricity office, Mr Sotnik discovered that the bill remained unpaid and was unable to contact the impostor, prompting him to report the incident to police.

 

Following the complaint, an investigation led by Pol Lt Col Pannumas Chukuea and Pol Sub Lt Wasan Sampawaphon identified Mr Karnnithi as the suspect. Officers tracked him down and recovered the motorcycle and clothing he used during the crime.

 

During questioning, Mr Karnnithi confessed to the scam. He admitted targeting foreign residents by checking for unpaid electricity bills often posted near utility poles or in front of houses. Once he found a outstanding bill, he would approach the resident posing as a PEA officer and threaten disconnection unless immediate payment was made. He then had the victims transfer the money directly to his personal bank account.

 

He also confessed to having worked previously as a contract worker for a private company tasked with disconnecting electricity on behalf of the PEA, giving him enough knowledge to convincingly impersonate an official. Police believe he has committed similar offences multiple times in the Koh Samui area.

 

In addition, police said Mr Karnnithi tested positive for methamphetamine use. He now faces charges of “fraud by impersonating another person” and “illegal use of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine),” and is being held at Bo Phut Police Station for further legal proceedings.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-07-14

 

 

 

It always amazes me how stupid people can be. This is just another instance of it. Why would you hand over so much money to some man claiming to be from PEA. Jeez.. 

It's easy peasy to pay the PEA-bill and outstanding amount the correct way by using the QR-code on the bill...