NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – A growing scandal involving fraudulent birth registrations in northeastern Thailand has widened, with authorities now confirming a total of 45 cases tied to Chinese nationals, local officials revealed on May 1.
Kitipong Pongsuravet, Mayor of Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality in Mueang district, disclosed the latest findings following a joint investigation with Fort Suranari Hospital, which had been falsely cited as the place of birth in the forged documents.
The case first emerged after municipal registry officials were accused of issuing fake birth certificates to foreign nationals—allegedly part of a coordinated “grey Chinese” network—in exchange for bribes ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 baht per case. Initial investigations uncovered 27 fraudulent registrations.
However, further verification has revealed an additional 28 suspicious cases, bringing the total to 45. All names listed in the documents belong to Chinese nationals, with no Thai citizens involved. Notably, six pairs of twins were identified among the fake registrations—raising further red flags.
Authorities found that the falsified birth records were filed between July and October 2025, with an unusual spike in June, when six registrations were submitted within a single month.
Fort Suranari Hospital, which was impersonated in the documentation, has pledged full cooperation and is conducting a thorough internal review to clarify the extent of the misuse of its name.
In a related development, immigration officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport have detained two Chinese individuals attempting to leave Thailand. Preliminary checks revealed links to birth registrations in Pho Klang, suggesting possible connections to the broader network.
Mayor Kitipong confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and has now entered a formal fact-finding stage. He expressed confidence that collaboration among relevant agencies would lead to the dismantling of the operation and prevent further abuses.
