BANGKOK – The Immigration Bureau has been asked by various embassies in Thailand to investigate suspicions that hundreds of Thai nationals applying for visas to travel to European countries have been using forged documents.
On May 29, officials announced the results of the investigation and the arrest of suspects after finding that most of the documents presented by Thai nationals, such as employment certificates, bank statements and financial confirmation letters, were fake and came from three intermediary companies.
The authorities then carried out searches at the following locations:
Location 1: A condominium in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi province. Mr. Nakorn, a 49-year-old Thai national, was identified as the owner of the apartment and led the search. Officers found 23 forged documents in the apartment, including forged bank statements and employment certificates. Mr. Nakorn was arrested along with the forged documents and charged with “document forgery” He was taken to Pak Kret police station in Nonthaburi province where legal proceedings were initiated.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Nakorn had hired another person to forge the documents for 5,000 baht per set. Further investigations are underway to gather evidence against the document forger.
Location 2: Thanyaudomchok Travel Co, Ltd (Baramee Visa) in Sai Mai district, Bangkok. Ms. Thanyanaree, a 40-year-old Thai national, identified herself as the owner of the company and led the search. The officers found 27 counterfeit items, including various company stamps, fake bank statements and fake employment certificates.
Ms. Thanyanaree admitted to forging the documents herself and then guiding her clients in answering questions during the interrogation at the embassy. She was arrested along with the forged documents and charged with “document forgery” She was taken to Sai Mai police station where she was brought to court.
Location 3: Visa & Tour Partnership in Mueang Udon Thani, Udon Thani Province. Ms. Napatcha, a 48-year-old Thai national, identified herself as the owner of the business and led the search. The officers found 12 counterfeit items, including various company stamps and fake bank deposit certificates.
Ms. Napatcha admitted to hiring a broker to forge the documents for 5,000 – 7,000 baht per document. She then checked the documents and sent them to her clients to apply for a visa, but most of the applications were rejected by the embassies.
The authorities confiscated the counterfeit items and filed charges against Ms. Napatcha with investigators at the Mueang Udon Thani police station. She will have to stand trial for “joint forgery of documents.”
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