Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Two Thais arrested for defrauding Bangkok monk of 500,000 baht in online scam
Thai cyber police yesterday apprehended two key members of a fraudulent call centre operation which orchestrated an elaborate financial scam, defrauding a monk out of almost half a million baht. Named Thitiwatch, aged 38, and 52 year old Ekapetch were arrested in Phaya Thai and Pleonchit districts of Bangkok under arrest warrants 407,408/2023 from Samut Prakan provincial court. The investigation…
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Bangkok freezes fire drills after fatal school mishap, calls for rigorous reform
The Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, appealed for extensive reform of disaster prevention and mitigation systems in the wake of a lethal explosion that occurred during a fire drill at a local school. Fire evacuation exercises throughout the city will remain suspended while safety checks on fire-fighting apparatus are carried out. This update in policy comes in the aftermath of…
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Counterfeit caper in northeast Thailand: Scammer’s fake money fiasco sends a warning to the community
A cautionary tale has emerged from the local community in northeast Thailand involving a scammer using counterfeit money for purchases. The perpetrator paid with a fake 1,000 baht banknote and received 903 baht in change. Around 1pm yesterday, Police Lieutenant Colonel Chedchai Chaisaeng, an acting inquiry officer of Chai Wan Police Station in Udon Thani, was visited by local retailer Prapaphon,…
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Police arrest woman over Japanese job recruitment scam
Udon Thani law enforcement agencies arrested a woman believed to have duped people into seeking work in Japan in a crackdown on fraudulent recruitment agencies. Identified as Sukanya Buasri, alias Ruen, she was apprehended amidst a flurry of complaints concerning her activities. Homing in on alleged unscrupulousness, Bang Dung and Thungfon police jointly detained Buasri. She was subsequently transported to…
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Phuket roads to close for grand Peranakan Festival parade today
Phuket Town’s arterial ways are set to experience a temporary shutdown late this afternoon into the evening due to a grand carnival parade. The procession forms part of the Phuket Peranakan Festival ceremonies and will cover the historical Phuket Old Town region. Thalang Road, Soi Rommanee, and parts of Phang Nga Road, Yaowarat Road, and Thepkrasattri Road will remain inaccessible to…
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Illegal Cape Shark Villas shut down on Koh Tao Island”
A villa constructed without permission in Cape Shark Villas has been instructed to cease operations by local authorities on Koh Tao Island. An investigation is underway to check if other villas within the resort have conformed to obligatory construction permits. The villa under investigation is strategically perched on a rocky ledge, providing direct access to the clear waters of the…
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RTN investigates alleged corruption in 440 million baht armoured vehicle deal
A thorough investigation has been initiated by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) after a social media page reported some alleged discrepancies in a recent purchase of armoured vehicles totalling over 440 million baht (US$12,480,000). The public announcement about the investigation came yesterday when Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin, the RTN spokesman, stated that the navy commander, Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, had ordered a probe…
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Healing the rumor mill: Bangkok hospital denies ‘rejuvenating DNA’ trials with a dose of truth
King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, alongside Chulalongkorn University (CU), yesterday refuted allegations of conducting “rejuvenating DNA” trials on human subjects following a claim by someone to have undergone such treatment at their facilities. In a joint statement, both institutions clarified that the pioneering rejuvenating DNA, developed by CU’s Faculty of Medicine specialist team under the RED-GEMs (REjuvenating DNA by GEnomic Stability…
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Shattered dreams: Disabled man in Bangkok takes his own life
A dismal image of life pressures came to light recently when a disabled man, feeling the weight of his predicament, tragically ended his life. The man, once a car mechanic able to fend for his wife, sadly viewed himself as a burden on her. Found beneath their rented house, his death underscores the stark realities of life pressures and hardship…
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Triumph over adversity: Teenage Thai girl peddles to provide for family
A 15 year old Thai girl found herself as the breadwinner of a family of three following a family accident. The girl, her grandmother, and her 8 year old sister, who is suffering from anaemia, are now living in a makeshift home on some temple premises, where the structure is on the verge of collapsing and the family is obliged…
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Teenage intern injured in mysterious fall from six-storey building leaves questions unanswered
A 19 year old intern yesterday was found injured in a car park, having mysteriously fallen from a six-storey building. The young man was undressed and bore injuries across his body. Rescuers from the Thamma Ratsamee Maneerat Foundation and a medical team from Chon Buri Hospital found the teenager lying on the bonnet of a damaged Toyota Yaris. His fall…
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Thai-twister alert: Storm swirls promised over next 24 hours
The Meteorological Department forecasts a 24-hour Thailand weather shift starting this morning, caused by a storm passing over northern and northeast Thailand. The low-pressure trough pushing in from northern Vietnam and the Gulf of Tonkin, along with the continual southwest monsoon, have increased rainfall across northern, northeastern, and eastern Thailand, with some areas experiencing heavy downpours. Central and southern Thailand…
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Blade of betrayal: Estranged husband’s chilling knife attack rattles kanchanaburi
An estranged husband yesterday turned into a knife-wielding psychopath in an attempt to murder his wife in Kanchanaburi, West Thailand. The 44 year old assailant, Sukrit Jaifuey, remains at large following the chilling assault on his estranged wife, known as ‘A,’ which occurred at her place of work. The shocking scene took place within the bustling bus station where A…
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Trans-forming blackmail: Thai transwoman’s explicit image scam lands her behind bars
Officers from Investigation Division Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) arrested a Thai transwoman who lured men into sharing explicit images of their penis and blackmailed them for money. According to the IDMB, the arrest was made on the back of another transwoman’s arrest in the central province of Nakhon Pathom in 2021. The initial case involved Piyachat, who enticed men through provocative…
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Love’s fatal crossfire: Jealousy ignites tragic showdown in eastern Thailand
A tragic incident gripped the community of Prajantakam, Prachinburi, in eastern Thailand after an ex-husband confronted his former wife and her new partner. His jealousy led to a violent encounter and ended in a fatal shooting. Witnesses yesterday recalled a heated spat in a rented room along Vorodom Road behind Wat Sri Prajantakam temple. The situation escalated, resulting in gunshots that…
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Wave of disapproval: Krabi residents make waves as foreign men scale tsunami tower in unruly act
Residents in the southern province of Krabi condemned two foreign men for their unruly behaviour after they put their lives in danger to climb a 16-metre tsunami warning tower on Ao Nang Beach. Witnesses speculated that the duo was under the influence of alcohol. A 25 year old Thai woman shared a video of the two foreigners with the Thai news…
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Woman seeks media help after ex-husband accuses her of embezzlement
A Thai woman sought help from a Thai news agency after her ex-husband filed a complaint accusing her of embezzlement and demanded 720,000 baht from her. The wife, 36 year old Treeraka, told Channel 3 that she married her husband, a 49 year old Thai man named Nikorn, on May 8 in 2017. Nikorn provided a 200,000-baht cash dowry and…
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Fatal gas cylinder explosion kills student during fire drill in Bangkok
A terrifying gas cylinder explosion at a school in Bangkok’s Nang Loeng area during a fire drill resulted in a student’s death and the injury of several others. Despite swift medical assistance from teachers and fellow students, the severity of the event led to tragic consequences. The local authorities were alerted about the incident by the school’s security staff. The…
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Phuket ramps up maritime safety ahead of tourist influx
In an effort to reassure tourists and prevent local boat and ferry accidents, maritime safety and disaster officials in Phuket have initiated an intensified campaign for water transport safety. Recent visits from Phuket marine officials to scrutinise boats for safety compliance suggest a strengthened emphasis on stringent adherence to safety measures. These measures were fleshed out during a meeting presided…
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Marine police seize Vietnamese fishing vessels in Songkhla crackdown
Thailand’s southern Songkhla province witnessed a series of Marine Police actions as two Vietnamese fishing vessels were seized and their crew members detained, according to authorities. These events unfolded yesterday in the waters of the southern regions of Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Pol. Lt. Col. Nathapong Takaew, the deputy head of the Songkhla-based Marine Police Sub-division 7, reported today…
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Phuket undeterred by Expo bid loss, invests in 5.1 billion baht project
Phuket’s development as an International Medical Hub remains steadfast and promising following the unsuccessful bid for the World Specialised Expo 2027/28. Phuket, a top tourist destination, is undeterred and continues with its ambitious government-backed project to carve a niche as an ‘International Medical Hub’. Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri showed optimism for Phuket’s development amidst the loss, articulating gratitude on behalf…
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Chinese fraud syndicate caught after swindling 500 million baht from Thai investors
A Chinese national believed to be at the helm of a swindling operation, was taken into custody by the Thai authorities alongside ten other members of the fraud gang. The group is accused of soliciting people to participate in a bogus gold investment scheme, alleging its connection with Thailand’s Crown Property Bureau. The illicit operation, which duped victims of around…
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Caught in the act: Police swoop down on illegal immigration, nabbing 23 in southern Thailand sting
A swift police operation on illegal immigration yesterday resulted in the apprehension of 23 individuals in Songkhla, a province in southern Thailand. Four of them were Thai citizens acting as drivers, and the remaining 19 were Bangladeshis, who were identified as unlawful immigrants. Following an informant’s tip-off about chances of illegal immigration, the local law enforcement swung into action, anticipating…
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Viral spectre sensation: Young girl’s chilling ghost encounter haunts the Internet with over 3 million views
A video capturing a young girl’s encounter with a ghost in the midst of the day has taken the Internet by storm, with views exceeding three million. The footage was posted by TikTok user @nnlsenseless and in it, the girl is seen standing on a staircase, claiming she can see a ghost. The caption of the now-viral clip says… “My…
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Thai health sector to add 175,000 jobs tackling major staffing shortage
To combat the ever-present issue of personnel shortages within the public health sector, an agreement has been struck between the Ministry of Public Health and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), set to open numerous new positions for both doctors and nurses. There has been an increasing trend of medical practitioners leaving the state sector for greener pastures in private hospitals,…
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Thai man murders girlfriend before committing suicide in Bangkok
A Thai man murdered his girlfriend at a condominium in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. He stayed with the lifeless body of his girlfriend for a night before committing suicide. A condo member of staff, Nopphachorn Vijitjariya, found the lifeless bodies of the couple yesterday at 2pm and immediately reported his discovery to officers at Rattnathibet Police Station. According to Nopphachorn, the…
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Pattaya crackdown reveals foreigners living illegally amid beggar population
A crackdown by the Pattaya authorities to clear the city’s vibrant tourist hotspot of beggars unearthed a surprising amount of illegal foreigners residing within the country. Wutthisak Ruemkijjakarn, the deputy mayor of Pattaya, revealed that the city crackdown took place on Wednesday evening under the watchful eye of numerous authorities. This included officials from Chon Buri’s Social Development and Human…
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Thai repatriation: Rescuing nationals caught in Japanese job scam
Efforts are currently underway by the Thai foreign affairs and labour departments to assist in the safe return of six Thai nationals. The Thai nationals were deceived into travelling to Japan under the guise of a fictitious job contract, compelled to undertake illegal work, and then stranded when they declined to take part in these illicit activities. The ongoing efforts are…
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Perverted Bangkok taxi driver caught masturbating to porn while driving
A Thai woman took to Twitter to warn netizens about a perverted taxi driver in Bangkok. She revealed that the driver watched porn and masturbated while transporting her and her friends to their destination. On June 20, the woman shared pictures of the taxi driver, his identification card, and his registration number on Twitter along with the caption that said……
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Change Party leader launches revived digital lottery platform
Change Party leader Not Phanthawat Nakvisut yesterday made an assertive move in the digital lottery business arena by re-launching a platform called ‘Lottery Plus.’ Not emphasised the revival of his digital lottery business, changing the name from ‘Prizedraw Plus’ to ‘Lottery Plus.’ This move seemingly signals his determination to re-establish his mark in the lottery world, after a temporary standstill.…
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