Bangkok: The gang involved in forging Chinese citizenship for "Chinese children" will be remanded in custody tomorrow. In the case of a Thai father who provided Thai citizenship to a "Chinese child" gang, police have expanded their investigation and arrested a medical records officer, district officials, a Thai father acting as a proxy, and over 40 other network members. All suspects will be remanded in custody tomorrow.
According to Thai News Agency, the police operation "Unveiling the Dragon's Scales" resulted in the arrest of 19 individuals involved in fraudulently granting Thai citizenship to Chinese parents. Among those arrested were 10 "fake fathers," 7 Chinese women, Ms. Sunee, a medical records officer at a private hospital, and Ms. Siriporn, a registrar at the district office. Bang Yi Ruea Police Station was filled with suspects related to the case today.
Since this morning, one of the fathers in the case, who insists he is not involved, has had his daughter visit him. The daughter confirmed that 10 years ago, her father had a new wife and was introduced to a Chinese woman. He was then asked to sign a marriage certificate with the Chinese woman. She didn't know the reason for the marriage because she was too young at the time. When asked again, her father said he agreed because he trusted his wife as a friend, and she said she wanted to live in Thailand. He claimed he didn't know anything about the documents or if there was any hidden paternity acknowledgment. He admitted receiving 2,000 baht for signing the documents. He also stated that the Chinese woman wasn't pregnant at the time of the marriage and only became pregnant a few years ago. He further admitted to divorcing her after the marriage. Meanwhile, when questioned, his new wife from that time denied knowing anything. The daughter emphasized that she will need to post bail for her father. Police said b ail is possible but must be granted in court. All suspects will be taken into custody tomorrow.
However, when reporters met with Mr. Thip, he claimed he didn't receive any money for signing the marriage registration, but instead received compensation for lost time driving his taxi and for car rentals, in cash amounts of 2,000 baht each time. He also admitted to having legally acknowledged paternity of two children, approximately 2-3 years apart, from a Chinese woman introduced by his wife. The first child he acknowledged is now 9 years old. His wife was aware of everything.
Regarding Ms. Siriporn, the district office registrar who was brought out to have her fingerprints taken, reporters tried to ask her if she was tricked into doing it, if anyone ordered her to do it, if she wanted to clarify anything, or if she received 2,500 baht for providing false birth registration. However, Ms. Siriporn did not answer.
In addition, officials brought in a man who was previously suspected of being a nominee holding shares in a company in the case of the collapse of the State Audit Office building. Reporters tried to question him, similar to what they asked Ms. Siriporn, but he also refused to answer any questions.
It is emphasized that this case of fraudulently granting Thai citizenship to a "Chinese child" stems from the arrest of Mr. A, a Chinese national and scammer who used Thailand as a base to launder over 70 billion baht in April 2024. Subsequently, money was found to have been transferred through proxy accounts to a Chinese woman who has three children but holds Thai citizenship despite having a Chinese husband. Investigations revealed that she used a private hospital for childbirth and then hired a Thai man to register a marriage with the foreign mother or acknowledge paternity, so that the children could obtain Thai citizenship. This exploited loopholes related to birth in Thailand and bloodline, with hospital and district officials allegedly involved in facilitating the children's citizenship.