PHUKET — Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers have arrested a 26-year-old alleged hacker who police say taught himself advanced computer skills using AI chatbots after allegedly attempting to hack into Royal Thai Police systems to delete his own arrest warrants.
The suspect, identified as Sahachart Chuaybamrung, was arrested at an apartment in Phuket’s Muang district on 18 July. Police seized 80 methamphetamine pills, a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun, ammunition, desktop and laptop computers, and four mobile phones.
According to police, the suspect’s original goal was not financial gain but to erase five outstanding arrest warrants against him, including charges related to robbery, fraud and computer crimes.
Investigators said Sahachart, who completed only Grade 6, fled to the Thai-Myanmar border after allegedly committing a robbery in Nakhon Si Thammarat. While in hiding, he allegedly began studying hacking techniques with the help of AI chatbots, hoping to breach Royal Thai Police systems and remove his arrest warrants.
Police said the attempt to penetrate government systems failed, prompting him to shift his focus to vulnerable commercial websites.
Authorities allege that in June, he exploited security flaws in an online platform offering game top-ups and mobile phone credit. By creating fake user accounts and manipulating the payment system to falsely indicate successful transfers, he allegedly generated fraudulent account credits without making any payments.
Police said the fake credits were then used to purchase digital products, causing the platform to absorb the costs and resulting in losses of more than 200,000 baht.
The company later filed a complaint with the CCIB, leading investigators to identify Sahachart as the suspect. Police tracked him to an apartment in Phuket using what they described as special investigative tools.
Authorities said the suspect resisted arrest before being subdued.
Police also allege that after developing his hacking skills, Sahachart upgraded his computer equipment and began offering hacking services while living in Phuket.
He now faces multiple charges, including unauthorized access to protected computer systems and data, damaging computer systems, computer crime offenses, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and drug use.
