Department of Special Investigation
- Thailand News
DSI freezes 220 million baht in Stark Corp leader Chanin’s scandal
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has placed a freeze on a staggering 220 million baht held in the bank account of Chanin Yensudchai, the erstwhile chairman of the beleaguered Stark Corp. According to DSI spokeswoman Pichaya Tarakornsanti, the action is part of a broader measure to offer compensation to victims in light of the ongoing scandal. “The DSI has…
- Hot News
Thai wife murdered in Yorkshire Dales – British police go home
A British police cold-case squad are in Thailand to speak with the family of a Thai wife murdered in the Yorkshire Dales. Twenty years after the half-naked body of Lamduan Seekanya, was found in a stream near Pen-y-ghent in 2004, officers failed to interview her husband, prime suspect David Armitage. For 15 years the identity of the woman remained unknown…
- Thailand News
DSI accused of soliciting 50 million baht bribe from gambling king
Help Crime Victim Club President Autchariya Ruengrattanapong accused the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) of soliciting bribes of 50 million baht from a gambling kingpin named Somchai Jutikitdaecha. Somchai, also known as Long Joo, is a well-known personality in the eastern provinces of Thailand, especially in Rayong. He is well-liked in the community and perceived as kind because he helps…
- Thailand News
Tuhao buck passes to Department of Special Investigation
The “Tuhao” case is certainly a complicated one. Its trail of intrigue leads from Beijing to Bangkok and back again, passing all points between. So it is no surprise that the Department of Special Investigation decided to take up the case involving Chinese businessman Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant. Justice will now be served. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said yesterday that Tuhao was…
- Crime News
Thai-led human trafficking sent 1,000 victims to Finland
About 1,000 Thai people were scammed in a human trafficking plot that sent them to Finland to work. Officials from the Thai police force teamed up with their Finnish counterparts to bust the ring that was enticing Thai people to Finland to pick fruit and trick them into indentured servitude. The scheme invited Thai workers to travel abroad to Finland…
- Crime News
Ponzi schemes in the crosshairs for DSI, Finance Ministry
Sometimes cracking down on scam crimes just creates smarter criminals. The Ministry of Finance and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) are teaming up to crack down on new forms of the classic Ponzi scheme. The director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office announced that the ministry was meeting with the DSI to discuss updates on the laws regarding new scams.…
- Pattaya News
Mountain B Pub demolished as the fire claims 25th victim
The Mountain B Pub fire tragedy never seems to end, as a 25th victim succumbed to her injuries, on the same day the burned husk of the club was demolished. The August 5 inferno killed 13 people on the spot and over the weeks following the tragedy 11 more died of burn wounds in various hospitals. Yesterday, 26 year old…
- Phuket News
Businesses encroaching Layan Beach in Phuket get final eviction notice
Phuket officials handed a final eviction notice to four businesses illegally occupying Layan Beach. Their patience finally snapped after a string of notices were ignored dating back to 2017. They now have to remove all structures from three kilometres of public land by the end of the month. Several businesses have been operating along 178 rai of beachfront land for…
- Thailand News
Police chief admits Thailand is an epicentre of drugs trafficking
The Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) admitted yesterday that Thailand has become the epicentre of drug trafficking in Southeast Asia. The NSB acknowledged the claim after several high-profile drug trafficking cases were made known in the public domain and highlighted by the recent arrest of a Chinese couple trying to mail heroin to Australia with a street value of about US$500,000,…
- Crime News
Piracy crackdown on intellectual property as tourism grows
With tourism now beginning to return to Thailand, the Intellectual Property Department pledged to be more strict in cracking down on pirated goods. Experts believe that the market will be flooded with fakes in popular tourist destinations as shady sellers see new potential customers pouring into the country. The IPD is coordinating with the Customs Department, the Department of Special…
- Phuket News
Squabble over 50 billion baht beachfront land in Phuket
Beachfront land in Phuket valued at 50 billion baht remains occupied, despite the Supreme Court’s orders for 9 claimants to vacate their plots. The Thai government, locals and companies have squabbled over the 178 rai of land – which covers 3 kilometres of Layan Beach – for 30 years. Officials from the Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, inspected the…
- Thailand News
45,000 counterfeit items seized nationwide in one month
Fake Gucci handbags, Nike shoes and Prada sunglasses with low price tags can be found around every corner of almost every market in Thailand and are easily identifiable from their real counterparts. Counterfeit items are popular with locals and tourists alike, but the Department of Intellectual Property wants to make an example that selling fake brand names in Thailand is…
- Thailand News
Department of Special Investigation releases music video to warn about call centre scams
A music video was released by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations, warning people about call centre scams and advising them to think before they transfer money. But the video, featuring celebrities, has drawn criticism from Thais. Many have been questioning why the DSI, which is known to be Thailand’s counterpart to the FBI in the US, is spending time and…
- Krabi News
DSI official under investigation for Krabi island land received
The Department of Special Investigation is launching its own special investigation into one of its officials who received a plot of land on an island in the Krabi province under suspicious circumstances. The deputy spokesperson for the DSI said they received a complaint regarding title deeds of land plots on islands in the region. The land plot in question that…
- Bangkok News
Burmese woman rescued by DSI after 13 years of forced labour
The Department of Special Investigation rescued a Burmese woman in Bangkok who has been held in forced labour for 13 years. The rescue was carried out yesterday by the DSI and was revealed today by the Director-General of the DSI. The 26 year old woman was held in a house on Soi 11 in the Pakamas housing estate, located in…
- Asia News
Myanmar junta criticises UN’s decision for denying its envoy
Myanmar military junta has criticised the decision by the United Nations today for denying its representative a seat at the world body and not kicking out an envoy appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s deposed government from his position. According to diplomats, the committee in charge of accepting ambassadorial nominations to the United Nations convened yesterday, but deferred a decision…
- Crime News
Fake goods valued at 40 million baht seized in police busts
Pro-tip: If a shop is selling Louis Vuitton pillows next to Doraemon pillows, they are fake. In a series of raids, police impounded 40 million baht worth of counterfeit goods – mostly bedding products – from storage facilities in Pathum Thani and Rayong. The Department of Special Investigation announced the haul yesterday. The bust was made with the help of…
- Phuket News
Sri Panwa resort face punishment for illegally acquired land
Just as the National Anti-Corruption Commission probed Trisara resort, the luxury resort Sri Panwa in Southeast Phuket is facing legal action for land the Department of Special Investigation says was acquired illegally. The resort is accused of acquiring one plot over 3 rai in area with a Nor Sor 3 Gor land document – papers with ownership privileged just short…
- Thailand News
DSI asked to step in and investigate multimillion baht street lamp project
Following the ongoing controversy of hundreds of millions of baht spent by local officials on expensive street lamps, the Department of Special Investigation has been asked to step in and investigate the projects in the Racha Thewa subdistrict of Samut Prakan, just outside Bangkok. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is also establishing 5 panels to investigate the lamp project, a probe…
- Thailand News
Man allegedly poses as Government Lottery Office official, steals millions
Yesterday, the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) working with the Government Lottery Office announced they had arrested a man who was posing as a GLO employee to swindle the GLO out of millions. The Thai national, identified only as “Mr Jaturong” was arrested and had a laundry list of items seized including property, a house, land, 5.5 million baht in…
- Covid-19 News
Thai authorities set up centre to investigate fake news surrounding Covid-19
Thai authorities are setting up a centre to investigate fake news surrounding Covid-19. The Department of Special Investigation says such misguidances could hamper the government’s efforts in containing the current pandemic. The task force to combat so-called “false information” started last Saturday and is headed by deputy director-general Supat Thamthanarak. The move falls in line with Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin’s…
- Thailand News
DSI releases more information about major child pornography seizure at modelling agency
More information has been released about the major seizure of child pornography at a Pathum Thani modelling agency. The Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, held a press conference today and said they arrested 28 year old Danudet “Nene” Saengkaew, who ran “Nene Modeling.” Last week, police raided the modelling agency, which was based in a neighbourhood in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district,…
- Thailand News
Around 100 foreigners allegedly scammed by housing project company
A housing project in the central province Phetchaburi is under fire after it allegedly defrauded around 100 foreigners with damages totalling 2 billion baht. The housing project allegedly issued illegal land documents and lured in foreign buyers, primarily from the United Kingdom and Russia, advertising the project on websites marketed toward those overseas. Most of the land title deeds for…
- Thailand News
Thai police warn about romance scammers on dating applications
Police are warning about a romance scam where people pose as attractive foreigners on dating applications and, after some sweet talking, convince victims to transfer money to an account for an “investment opportunity.” Police say the scammers claim the coronavirus pandemic has affected their business and they’ve started investing in the stock market as well as cryptocurrency. Police say the…
- Crime News
Thai government opens fraud investigation over 112.5 billion baht glove purchase
The Thai government is opening an embezzlement investigation into an order placed with a local company for 112.5 billion baht worth of surgical gloves. The Public Warehouse Organisation’s administrative office director allegedly signed off on the order without approval. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the director of the organisation’s administrative office, Roongroj Phuthiyawat, to be transferred to an inactive post in…
- Covid-19 News
DSI Thailand tells 100 officers to self quarantine after an officer contracts Covid-19
100 officers at the Department of Special Investigation have been asked to self-quarantine after one of their officers tested positive for Covid-19. Yesterday DSI deputy director-general, Triyarith Temahivong, said that an investigation officer in the Office of the Secretary of the department had become infected with the disease and around 100 officers who were in close contact with him will…
