BANGKOK, Thailand – Thai police have expanded their investigation into a syndicate that fraudulently registered births to secure Thai citizenship for foreign children, identifying over 60 suspects, a senior official said on Friday. Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, said investigators flagged 62 to 64 suspicious cases out of more than 160 birth records linked to arrested district and hospital staff. Police have issued 40 arrest warrants so far, with 22 more pending.
The investigation has expanded to several hospitals to verify birth registries. Several foreign nationals have contacted authorities to voluntarily renounce their illegally acquired citizenship, though Samran emphasized they still face prosecution. “This is a national security issue,” Samran said, adding that the probe targets unlawful identity acquisition across all nationalities to prevent individuals from using dual identities to evade the law. (TNA)
