BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Immigration Bureau Division 3 is expanding its investigation into a suspected network accused of falsely registering foreign children as Thai nationals, with authorities linking the alleged scheme to two families and four suspects already facing legal action. On Aug. 19, Pol. Col. Suriya Phuangsombat, superintendent of the Investigation Division of Immigration Bureau 3, said investigators had been ordered to examine cases involving foreigners allegedly providing false information to authorities to obtain benefits unlawfully.
The investigation began with a Chinese woman, identified as Huang, who applied to remain in Thailand on the grounds that she was supporting Thai-national children. Investigators, however, found discrepancies concerning the children’s listed father on their birth certificates. DNA testing and other evidence reportedly showed that the two children were actually fathered by a Chinese national identified as Yue Long, rather than the Thai man listed on their birth certificates. Investigators believe the case involved an attempt to conceal the children’s foreign status and improperly register them as Thai nationals.
The investigation later uncovered a similar case involving another Chinese woman, identified as Wang. She allegedly admitted that her child was not fathered by the Thai man named on the birth certificate, but by another Chinese national identified as Zhu. Authorities have filed charges related to allegedly providing false statements to officials, causing false information to be entered into official documents and facilitating an improper birth registration.
Huang and Yue Long reported to investigators on Aug. 4 to acknowledge the allegations. On Aug. 18, a Thai man identified by the pseudonym “Pradit,” who was listed as the father on the birth-registration documents, appeared before investigators for the second time and reportedly confessed to all charges. Authorities have so far taken legal action against four people—three Chinese nationals and one Thai national—with the cases connected to two families. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence before submitting the case files to prosecutors for further legal proceedings. Immigration Bureau 3 said it would continue investigating the alleged use of false information and documents to obtain legal status or other benefits unlawfully, and would take action against all parties found to be involved.
