Identity theft leaves ex-village headman without essential services

An ex-assistant village headman from Nakhon Ratchasima has found himself in a nightmarish situation after discovering that his identity was stolen by a prisoner. Despite years of seeking help, he remains unable to access essential services due to the mix-up.

Komson Tiskratok, a 41 year old man, reported that his name, surname, and 13-digit ID number were used by a prisoner in Phuket. This situation has caused severe disruptions in his life, including losing access to healthcare and other legal rights.

Although Komson has contacted various officials, including district officials, police, and the Department of Corrections, he has yet to receive a clear solution.

Komson served as an assistant village headman from 2020 until his term ended earlier this year. Before taking on the role, his background was thoroughly checked and found clean. However, in mid-2021, when he fell ill and sought treatment at his local hospital, Komson was stunned to learn that his healthcare rights were registered at Phuket Prison Hospital.

“I was shocked when I saw that my rights were listed at the prison hospital.”

After consulting the district registry office in Khon Buri, he was advised to report the matter to the police, who then directed him to the Department of Corrections. Upon further investigation, it was confirmed that someone with Komson’s exact personal details was incarcerated for drug trafficking offences, a crime he has never been involved in.

“The Department of Corrections said they would look into it and get back to me, but years have passed with no resolution.”

Identity theft

Since 2021, Komson has persistently followed up with the Department of Corrections, only to be told repeatedly to wait. The stress of this situation led him to file a daily record with Khon Buri Police Station in April. Over the years, he has been unable to use his legal rights, particularly for medical treatment.

Whenever Komson falls ill, he is forced to pay out-of-pocket for private clinic visits, as his state welfare card has been revoked. This issue extends to all government-related documentation and job applications.

Currently, he leases land to farm cassava and takes on general labour jobs to support his family of eight, which includes his elderly parents, his wife, their three children (eight, seven, and one year old), and an 11 year old nephew.

Despite having skills in craftsmanship, Komson is unable to apply for better-paying jobs due to identity theft. His primary concern is the potential legal ramifications if the prisoner were to escape.

“If the prisoner escapes, I fear I might be wrongly accused and end up in even more trouble.”

Komson urgently calls for the relevant officials to address and resolve this issue. He questions how much longer he must live as a prisoner outside the prison due to this identity theft, reported KhaoSod.

“I beg the responsible agencies to step in and handle this matter swiftly because it has been dragging on for too long.”