Bangkok: The Department of Provincial Administration has announced the revocation of Thai citizenship for Kok An, a Cambodian national and member of the Cambodian Senate, along with his three children. This decision comes after investigations linked them to activities involving scams, casinos, human trafficking, and money laundering.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Provincial Administration conducted a thorough review of the registration process concerning Mr. Kok An and his children. Utilizing information from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and intelligence agencies, it was discovered that Mr. Kok An is engaged in businesses potentially connected to unlawful activities. Despite holding a residence certificate and having three children with Thai nationality, discrepancies were found in the claim that his parents are Thai nationals.
The Department, as the Central Registry Office, holds the authority to oversee all registry offices and has fast-tracked investigations into the legitimacy of residence and nationality acquisition. Collaborating with the Bangkok Registration Office, the District Registration Office, and other relevant departments yielded the following findings:
1. Mr. Kok An, initially granted legal residence by the Immigration Bureau, invalidated his residence certificate by leaving Thailand without appropriate notification. Consequently, the Prawet District Office in Bangkok is set to remove his name from household registration by November 12, 2025, rendering him an “alien with no right to reside in Thailand.”
2. The three children of Mr. Kok An, identified as Ms. Juri Klongkitkol, Ms. Phuchelin Klongkitkol Yulai, and Mr. Kittisak Klongkitkol, were found to have obtained Thai nationality fraudulently. They falsely claimed Thai nationals as parents when their births were reported late at the Phon Thong District Registration Office in Roi Et Province. Therefore, they were not entitled to Thai nationality from the outset.
The Central Registration Office has moved to cancel the fraudulently reported birth certificates and instructed the Prawet District Office to remove their names from household registration by November 11, 2025. This action categorizes them as “aliens who have no right to reside in Thailand,” with impending legal actions for their fraudulent birth notifications.
The Department of Provincial Administration emphasizes the importance of legal acquisition of Thai nationality and residence certification. It warns against the illegal entry of foreigners into Thailand for the purpose of conducting business and obtaining these rights, as it may lead to hardships for Thai citizens. In alignment with government policy, the Department is committed to combating all forms of transnational crime. Foreign nationals found guilty of offenses leading to the revocation of their Thai nationality will lose their citizenship to protect the interests of Thai citizens.