Crime

Citylife magazine employee hacks editor’s bank account, steals 4 million baht

Published

Saturday, June 27, 2020 09:25

PHOTO: Citylife

Police arrested a Chiang Mai-based English magazine employee yesterday for allegedly hacking and stealing nearly 4 million baht from her editor’s account. On Friday, Citylife Media Group editor-in-chief Pim Kemasingki noticed that her bank account only had 24 baht left, millions short of what she should’ve had.

After requesting a bank statement from the Siam Commercial Bank, Kemasingki received a call from one of the bank’s investigators who found the media company’s junior clerk, 26 year old Jessadaporn Khamtong, had been transferring to her accounts.

Khamtong, who worked for SCB in the past, allegedly started withdrawing funds in mid-April using the online wallet application AirPay, and transferred the money into her SCB and Kasikorn Bank accounts. In 2 months, she did 115 transfers which totalled at 3,975,841 baht. The money was allegedly then spent on online gambling.

While Khamtong had access to her editor’s ID card, phone number and bank account number, no one knows how she accessed the money. Khamtongh’s husband is also being investigated by police. Khamtong could face 3 to 5 years in prison for each of the transactions, and could spend life in prison.

The magazine started in 1992 as ‘The Chiang Mai Newsletter & Advertiser.’ The media company says they now reach 2 million people each year.

SOURCES: Chiang Mai Citylife |Chiang Mai Citylife | Chiang Rai Times

Get more from The Thaiger

📱 Download our app on Android or iOS
👋 Have your say on our Thailand forums
🔔 Subscribe to our daily email newsletter
📺 Subscribe / Join YouTube for daily shows
👍 Like/Follow us on Facebook
🐦 FOLLOW us on Twitter
📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram

News Categories: Chiang Mai Crime

Related Topics:arrest Chiang Mai citylife crime hack Police

Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.

Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.

Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

Create an Account

5 Comments

Toby Andrews

Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 11:21 am

Something suspicious here.
What is a magazine editor doing with a hundred thousands GBPounds in her bank account?
This is a lot of money for anyone in Thailand to have in a bank account.

Reply
- George Munro
  
  Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 12:50 pm
  
  The sum stolen was almost 4 million Thai Baht reportedly – no mention of GBP – which shows your unsympathetic response indicates an eyesight test required. I suspect many Thai citizens have far more than a few million Baht sitting legitimately in their bank accounts.
  
  Reply
  - James Armstrong
    
    Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 1:23 am
    
    The man was doing a conversion from TB to GBP. Simple math ,,,so relax no need for any eye exams.
    
    Reply
Torben Retboll

Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 11:21 am

Over two months almost four million TB disappeared from the editor’s account, but the editor did not notice anything until the account had only 24 TB left!

I am not defending the criminal who stole the money, but I wonder why the editor failed to notice what was going on for two months!

Reply
Bruce taylor

Sunday, June 28, 2020 at 9:20 am

Baht are not ponds, it’s a very modest amount to some westerners, to a Thai it’s hard worked for not easy to make, city life is a pretty positive publication, and reputable…….feel sorry for the person hacked and stole from .tragic result ……….hope city life will continue

Reply

Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

Up Next

Redshirt activist acquitted, freed after nearly 4 years

Don't Miss

Police arrest man for robbery on 4 year old warrant