Bangkok: Another suspect has been arrested in a fake birth registration scheme involving surrogate parents who claimed to help children get an education but did not receive any payment. Police have remanded him in custody and opposed bail.
According to Thai News Agency, investigators this afternoon arrested four more members of a group involved in registering fake births with surrogate parents. These individuals were brought to Bang Yi Ruea Police Station and include a Chinese national family consisting of a father, mother, and son, identified as Mr. Chen and Mr. Chatchawan, who signed the paternity acknowledgment documents. They are currently being questioned further.
Mr. Chatchawal's girlfriend disclosed that his sister-in-law, related to Mr. Chen's family, asked Mr. Chatchawal to sign a paternity acknowledgment so the child could attend school. Out of pity, he agreed to help, despite not being legally married and receiving no compensation. Following questioning, officials detained Mr. Chen, his wife, and Mr. Chatchawal, and they are awaiting arraignment at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct on Monday, July 13th.
Relatives of the Chinese family and Mr. Chatchawal expressed their intention to file a bail application for the suspect, but investigating officers objected, instructing them to submit the application at the court during the remand hearing. Additionally, Mr. But, 60, identified as one of the "adopted fathers," was questioned. He briefly stated his reason for signing the paternity acknowledgment as, "I don't know, my boss ordered me to," before being taken into custody. In the first batch of cases involving false birth registrations, a total of 35 arrest warrants have been issued. To date, 32 individuals have been arrested and prosecuted: 14 Thai fathers, 11 Chinese mothers, and 5 Chinese fathers. One individual fled the country prior to arrest.