NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 24 April 2026, Authorities have uncovered an alleged fraud ring falsifying birth registrations for foreign nationals in this northeastern province, with state officials implicated and bribes of tens of thousands of baht per case, a local official said.
Dr. Kittipong Pongsuravet said the Interior Ministry’s Department of Provincial Administration alerted municipal authorities earlier in March to suspected corruption in the civil registration system. An ensuing inspection found forged documents had been used to register births, citing paperwork purportedly issued by medical facilities in a format resembling official letters, leading staff to process the requests.
Investigators also found that an official without authorised system access exploited moments when colleagues were inattentive to log into the database under others’ credentials and input records. As a result, the system did not show the perpetrator’s name, allowing documents to be issued continuously without the knowledge of senior management, as the process occurred at the operational level.
The mayor of Pho Klang municipality said those involved were questioned over two days and suspects confessed. Bribes ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 baht per person were allegedly demanded. The activity appeared organised, with brokers bringing clients and directing them to a specific official.
A review of records from 2023 to the present has identified at least 27 cases, far more than the few initially flagged by the department. Complaints have been filed on multiple charges, and a disciplinary committee has been established, with officials vowing strict action.
Authorities also noted other irregularities, including overcharging of fees in some cases, highlighting vulnerabilities in the registration system that could be exploited. The Central Investigation Bureau is continuing its probe to expand the case and identify related networks in other areas.
