Police arrest 26 Chinese nationals operating an illegal online lending business from a luxury pool villa in Pattaya's Jomtien Beach area on August 8, 2025.
PATTAYA — Police arrested 26 Chinese nationals operating an illegal online lending business from a luxury pool villa in Pattaya’s Jomtien Beach area on Friday.
The operation began after local residents reported suspicious activity involving nearly 30 Chinese individuals at a multi-million baht villa in Mu 12, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
Police Colonel Thawatchkiart Jindakuansong, Chonburi Provincial Police Commander, ordered Colonel Phassakorn Paijit, head of Chonburi Provincial Investigation, to lead the raid on the single-story luxury home spanning 90-100 square wah, surrounded by high walls and CCTV cameras.
During the search, officers found 26 Chinese nationals (25 men, 1 woman) working inside. Most had entered Thailand on tourist and student visas without work permits, while two were overstaying their visas.
Police inspect evidence including 2 laptops, 52 mobile phones, 77 Chinese-language financial documents related to the online lending business,
The investigation revealed the group was running an online loan shark business targeting Chinese nationals abroad, using laptops and mobile phones to conduct operations.
Police seized evidence including 2 laptops, 52 mobile phones, 77 Chinese-language financial documents related to the online lending business, and 80,300 baht in cash.
The suspects face charges of operating an unlicensed credit business, working illegally as foreigners without permits, and employment without proper authorization. The two overstayers face additional immigration charges.
All suspects and evidence were transferred to Pattaya City Police Station for prosecution.
Mr.Samutr tangkachavana, Director of Passenger Car Marketing at Toyota Motor Thailand (third from the left)
Mr.Samutr tangkachavana, Director of Passenger Car Marketing at Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd., has extended his support to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand team and attended the official opening ceremony of the “30th Asia Cross Country Rally 2025” (AXCR 2025).
This is Asia’s toughest rally, featuring a challenging route through Eastern Thailand that starts from Pattaya and covers a total distance of over 3,247 km.
The event tests the resilience of both vehicles and drivers alike.
The team consists of four drivers and co-drivers: Nattapol Angritanont, Thanyaphat Meenil, Mana Pornsiricherd, and Kitisak Klinchan, who will compete with two Hilux REVO GR SPORT 4×4 vehicles in the T1D class.
The rally takes place from August 8-16, 2025, with the starting point at Walking Street, South Pattaya.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing ThailandTOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand
A 47-year-old Australian tourist enters an investigation room at Pattaya City Police Station to file a complaint about being robbed of cash from his hotel room in Soi Pattaya Klang 12, Chonburi Province on August 9, 2025.
PATTAYA — Thai police appear unable to solve the ongoing problem of women and transgender individuals deceiving and robbing foreign tourists in Pattaya, as evidenced by two similar cases reported last night involving Australian and Bangladeshi visitors.
In the first incident, 47-year-old Australian tourist Mr. V filed a complaint with Police Lieutenant Colonel Saichai Khamjulla at Pattaya City Police Station at 4:00 a.m. after being robbed of cash from his hotel room in Soi Pattaya Klang 12, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
Mr. V stated that around 3:00 a.m., while walking along Pattaya Beach, he met an attractive woman who claimed to be Lao. He invited her back to his room, but she said she was afraid to go alone and asked to bring a transgender friend along, to which he agreed.
A 47-year-old Australian tourist files a complaint at Pattaya Police Station after being robbed of cash from his hotel room in Soi Pattaya Klang 12, Chonburi Province on August 9, 2025.
When they reached his room, he went to shower. Upon emerging, he discovered both women had disappeared along with 7,000 baht ($216.5) in cash from his wallet. He immediately reported the theft to police.
In a second case reported around the same time to the same officer, 32-year-old Bangladeshi tourist Mr. MH reported being assaulted and robbed of 800 Singapore dollars, 200 Malaysian ringgit, and 4,000 Thai baht – totaling approximately 25,500 baht ($790).
Mr. MH told police that after midnight Friday, while walking on Pattaya Beach, a Thai woman approached him for conversation before inviting him to a hotel room in Soi Khao Phra Tamnak 4. Upon arrival, she claimed two friends would join them.
A 32-year-old Bangladeshi tourist (sitting back) reports to Pattaya Police after being assaulted and robbed in a hotel room in Soi Khao Phra Tamnak 4 on August 9, 2025.
When the two additional Thai women entered the room, all three threatened and physically assaulted him before forcing him to hand over his belongings, leaving him penniless. Unable to afford transportation, he had to walk to the police station until a motorcycle taxi driver offered him a free ride after learning of his situation.
Police are investigating the incidents, though these types of cases often go unsolved. With no legal framework governing Pattaya’s sex trade, authorities struggle to monitor the transient population of service providers who can easily return to the area once tourists have departed.
Immigration police raid the residence of a suspected Chinese hacker in Soi Phraya Suren 9, Bang Chan subdistrict, Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok on August 8, 2025.
BANGKOK — Immigration police have arrested a Chinese national suspected of running an international credit card fraud operation that targeted thousands of victims across five Asian countries, seizing over 10 million baht ($308,840) worth of evidence including cryptocurrency, gold, and mobile phones.
During an expanded investigation into transnational cybercrime, authorities discovered a sophisticated scheme where stolen electronic card data was used to purchase gold and mobile phones for resale, with proceeds laundered into cryptocurrency.
An immigration police investigation team, armed with a search warrant from Minburi Criminal Court, raided a house on Phraya Suren 9 Alley in Bang Chan subdistrict, Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok.
They arrested Mr. Yupeng, 35, a Chinese national, on August 8 after discovering his connection to a hacker network that stole credit card data from thousands of victims across China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
During the arrest, police seized evidence including credit card information from over 5,000 individuals, 70 mobile phones, gold bars weighing 20 baht, over 400,000 baht ($12,355) in cash, approximately 9 million baht ($27,795) in cryptocurrency, and one vehicle—totaling over 10 million baht ($308,840) in value.
Police officers discover equipment used for credit card data hacking at the Chinese suspect’s residence in Soi Phraya Suren 9, Bang Chan subdistrict, Khlong Sam Wa district, Bangkok on August 8, 2025.
Yupeng confessed to using the Telegram app to communicate with the network, directing others to use stolen credit card information to purchase mobile phones and gold online. The items were then sold at major shopping centers in the Pathum Wan area, with the cash proceeds converted to digital currency (USDT) and transferred back to accomplices.
After receiving gold and smartphones, he would wipe all data from the phones to eliminate evidence. He had been conducting these operations for over 10 months.
Police have initially charged him with unauthorized use and possession of others’ electronic cards. The case has been forwarded to investigators at Bang Chan Police Station for prosecution, and authorities will coordinate with commercial banks in Thailand to investigate the broader criminal network.
Officers arrest Myanmar suspects in the scam network with 46 million baht in cash evidence in Mae Sot district, Tak province on August 7, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai police have launched Operation “SKYFALL” to dismantle a sophisticated cross-border money laundering network that used fake investment schemes to funnel over 1 billion baht ($30 million) monthly to a Chinese ringleader in Myanmar.
The syndicate operated through Huione Pay accounts across Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, with victims losing millions to fraudulent share trading platforms that promised high returns, according to Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Phuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
The Elaborate Scheme
The operation began when victims filed complaints with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau after being lured through Facebook investment pages. Victims were invited into large Line chat groups where accomplices posed as successful investors, claiming 10% profits and successful withdrawals.
Cash totaling 46 million baht ($1.4 million) displayed during press conference at Central Investigation Bureau headquarters on August 8, 2025.
One victim monitored these groups for two to three months before investing. After being moved to a “VIP group,” she was instructed to download the “Ulela Max” application and transfer funds to “Ulela Trading 999 Co, Ltd.”
Initial withdrawals appeared successful, encouraging larger investments. The victim ultimately transferred over 20 million baht ($617,750) across 18 transactions to four company accounts and eight personal accounts over two months. When promised returns failed to materialize, she realized it was fraud.
Complex Money Trail
Investigation revealed that “Ulela Max” was a fake application and recipient accounts were “mule accounts.” Once funds were received, syndicate members converted them to cryptocurrencies through Thai platforms including BinanceTH and Bitkub, transferring USDT to multiple private wallets to obscure the trail.
Police traced all transactions to an office building in Poipet, Cambodia. The laundered cryptocurrencies were routed through Huione Pay wallets in Cambodia before reaching final beneficiaries.
The network processed USDT worth 20-30 million baht daily, converting it to cash deposited in Thai bank accounts. Members withdrew equivalent amounts from banks in Mae Sot district, Tak province, then smuggled the cash through immigration checkpoints to the Chinese mastermind in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Monthly transfers exceeded 1 billion baht ($30 million).
Officers arrest Myanmar suspects in the scam network in Mae Sot district, Tak province on August 7, 2025.
Arrests and Charges
Police obtained arrest warrants for 28 suspects—24 mule account holders and four Myanmar nationals—plus search warrants from Mae Sot Provincial Court.
Three Myanmar suspects were arrested at their Mae Sot home: Mr. Shin (57), Ms. Thida (57) and Mr. Wai (54). Officers confiscated over 46 million baht in cash during the arrest as they prepared to smuggle funds to Myanmar.
All three face charges including public fraud through impersonation, criminal organization membership, fraudulent computer data entry, and money laundering conspiracy. They have denied all charges.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop noted that some high-profile suspects remain in countries without extradition treaties with Thailand. Police will pursue Interpol Red Notices to pressure the network.
Police found the unemployed former boxer restrained by witnesses outside a shopping mall in Ratchadamri area, Bangkok, on August 7, 2025.
BANGKOK — A shocking incident stunned tourists and locals alike outside a shopping mall at Ratchaprasong intersection in downtown Bangkok late Thursday night, when a Thai man doused two Malaysian tourists with paint thinner and set them on fire in an unprovoked attack. Bystanders subdued the assailant at the scene.
Lumpini Police Station officers responded to the incident at 10:00 PM and identified the perpetrator as Warakorn Pabtaisong, 30, from Sa Kaeo province. Police recovered evidence including a 1.5-liter plastic bottle of paint thinner and a lighter. The victims, a Malaysian couple, aged 26 and 27, suffered burn injuries to their bodies and faces and were taken to Police Hospital for treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, Warakorn was seen talking with the two victims before they separated. The Malaysian tourists later sat on the mall steps, where Warakorn approached them, poured thinner over both victims, and ignited them with his lighter as they tried to flee. Onlookers quickly intervened and restrained the attacker until police arrived.
During questioning at Lumpini Police Station, Warakorn confessed to the attack, stating he had no prior grievance against the victims. He attributed his actions to severe stress from unemployment and hunger.
The former boxer had recently worked as a security guard but was recently terminated and was struggling to find new employment. He told police he hadn’t eaten that day, which intensified his stress and led to the assault.
Rescue workers provide first aid to a Malaysian man injured after being doused with paint thinner and set on fire by an unemployed Thai man outside a shopping mall in Ratchadamri area on August 7, 2025.
Investigators are proceeding with charges of attempted bodily harm. Drug tests on the suspect came back negative. Police have coordinated with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to assist in the investigation and discuss support measures.
Both Malaysian tourists are now in stable condition, and authorities plan to take additional statements from them as the investigation continues.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong later expressed condolences following the incident and is also coordinating with the Malaysian Embassy, hospitals, insurance companies, and police agencies.
Police found the unemployed former boxer restrained by witnesses outside a shopping mall in Ratchadamri area, Bangkok, on August 7, 2025.
He has ordered Tourist Police and security agencies to provide urgent assistance and implement stricter safety measures in key tourist areas.
The Ministry is coordinating compensation applications under the foreign tourist assistance program and has deployed Tourist Assistance Center staff to monitor the victims’ medical treatment. Ministry executives also plan to visit the injured tourists for moral support once doctors permit.
“I ask that the injured and their families receive encouragement and be assured that Thailand will care for and protect all tourists with full capacity, so that Thailand remains a safe and attractive destination,” Minister Sorawong stated.
Cambodian workers at Ban Laem border crossing in Chanthaburi wait to return to Cambodia on August 7, 2025, with numbers significantly down from previous days.
As both nations are updating the death toll (over 40 combined fatalities from both Thailand and Cambodia), injuries and displaced people (over 300,000 displaced) as a result of the 5-day undeclared war, this writer would like to add that there are also economic costs, affecting trade and the overall economies of both nations, and more.
On the Thai side, the Prachachat Business newspaper, a sister daily of Khaosod English) reported on August 2, 2025, that the losses to the Thai economy have already reached 17 billion baht (and counting). It also stated, Thai exporters “fear that Chinese goods will replace Thai goods in the [Cambodian] market.”
In my opinion, there’s no need to fear—it will definitely happen, whether it’s Chinese or Vietnamese goods. This is the result of insufficient self-restraint and fanatical ultranationalism. The Siam Rath newspaper had a headline on the same day that read, “Halt it now! The Thai-Cambodian border conflict. The longer it drags on, the more damage is done! Economic damage will exceed 100 billion baht.”
The economic impact is widespread, affecting various Thai consumer goods exported to Cambodia, not just border trade. It has also impacted tourism between the two countries. Regarding Cambodia’s tourism, before the conflict, Thailand constituted Cambodia’s largest group of foreign tourists. In the first 8 months of last year (2024), 1.3 million Thais visited Cambodia. Vietnam, China, Laos, and the US were the next largest groups, in that order.
There’s also an impact on the estimated 500,000 Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, tens of thousands of whom have already decided to return home. There’s no guarantee that everyone will find new jobs in Cambodia soon, while Thai employers are struggling to find new workers to replace them. Overall tourism is affected as well; most recently, the Khaosod English just reported that tourism on Koh Chang has dropped by 90%.
However, another price that both countries have paid, and will continue to pay, is the hatred and distrust between millions of Thai and Cambodian people. It will likely take at least a decade, or maybe even longer, to heal and return to a near-normal state, like it was before the clashes on May 28 and the subsequent undeclared 5-day war.
This widespread mutul animosity and hatred is a long-term cost that is difficult to fix. It requires time, patience, and self-restraint from incitement or spreading fake news and content that is demeaning and insulting to one another.
It can be said that not only the governments but also the people of both nations have a trust deficit. Not only that they don’t believe that the opposing nation and its people are speaking and sharing what is true and sincere; in fact, they believe the others (be it Thais or Cambodians) are outright lying and insincere.
Cambodian Buddhist monks chant in a Buddhist pagoda of Wat Botumvotey as they organize a ceremony to honor soldiers killed in recent border clashes with Thai forces and to pray for peace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Cambodia on Friday held a religious ceremony to honor soldiers killed in recent border clashes with Thai forces and to pray for peace.
They marched from the country’s main religious school near the Royal Palace in the capital, Phnom Penh, to a nearby temple, where they were joined by nuns and laymen and women.
The monks chanted and prayed to honor the souls of the dead soldiers.
A board inside the temple displayed the photographs of more than 40 men in uniform. It wasn’t clear whether these images were of soldiers killed, or included those who were wounded and captured.
Cambodia has admitted only to the deaths of six of its troops in the fighting, which began late last month and continued for five days.
Cambodian Buddhist monks march on a street as they organize a religious ceremony to honor soldiers killed in recent border clashes with Thai forces and to pray for peace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Dozens of people on both sides, including civilians, were killed in the fighting and over 260,000 displaced on both sides of the border.
A ceasefire that took effect on July 29 ended major fighting, though both sides have alleged violations of the truce and the underlying dispute over territorial claims has not been resolved.
Khem Sorn, the chief monk for Phnom Penh, said the main purpose of Friday’s ceremony was to show support to the government for working toward peace and ending the war with a ceasefire.
It was also intended to honor to the souls of the Cambodian soldiers and civilians who were killed, and to appeal to all Buddhist countries, especially Thailand, to live in peace with each other, he told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
“It means that we only want to live side-by-side with Thailand as a good neighbor, living with unity and peace with each other,” Khem Sorn said.
The recent fighting was triggered by a land mine explosion in disputed land along the border that wounded five Thai soldiers. That came just a week after a similar incident.
It was the latest eruption of hostilities in a decades-old dispute over ownership of several small pockets of territory along the 800-kilometer (500-mile) land border.
Cambodian Buddhist monks chant in a Buddhist pagoda of Wat Botumvotey as they organize a ceremony to honor soldiers killed in recent border clashes with Thai forces and to pray for peace, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to delay crucial trade talks, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on July 28.
Talks in Malaysia on Thursday reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to the ceasefire deal but failed to secure the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers, who were captured in disputed circumstances after the truce went into effect. Thailand says it is treating the men in full compliance with international humanitarian law and will free them once “active hostilities” end.
The United States and China, which both played an active role in encouraging an end to the fighting, separately hailed Thursday’s reaffirmation of the ceasefire, and said they look forward to supporting the parties involved in securing the peace process.
Pattaya, August 2025 – The countdown to the 33rd SEA Games has officially begun with a major step forward as the Thailand Equestrian Federation Under the Royal Patronage proudly welcomed an esteemed delegation from the National Olympic Committee of Thailand for a venue inspection at Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, Pattaya — the official host of the equestrian competitions for this year’s historic games.
Representing Dr. Harald Link, President of the Thailand Equestrian Federation (TEF), Mr. Nara Ketusingha, TEF Secretary General, along with TEF officials, hosted the visiting delegation led by Mr. Chaiyapak Siriwat, Chief Executive Officer of the Southeast Asian Games Federation and Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
The visit included a comprehensive tour of competition arenas, training grounds, stabling facilities, and essential operational zones. Discussions focused on ensuring world-class readiness across every aspect of the venue — all in preparation to welcome athletes and horses from across the region this December 13–19, 2025.
Adding to the excitement, Thai Polo & Equestrian Club will also host the 2nd FEI Asian Championships 2025 — a world-class international event taking place from November 24 to December 7, just prior to the SEA Games.
Rescue workers search for bodies at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
BANGKOK (AP) — State prosecutors in Thailand have formally indicted 23 individuals and companies on charges related to the collapse of a Bangkok office building that collapsed after an earthquake, killing at least 92 people.
The partially built high-rise, which was to house the new State Audit Office, was the only one in Thailand to completely collapse on March 28 due to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, which was centered in neighboring Myanmar.
Those indicted include the lead contractors for the project: Italian-Thai Development Co. and its Chinese joint venture partner for the project, the China Railway No. 10 company.
Italian-Thai Development’s president, Premchai Karnasuta, and China Railway No. 10’s local director, Zhang Chuanling, were also indicted along with others, including designers, engineers and several other companies.
The charges in the various indictments include professional negligence in design, supervision, or construction practices that failed to comply with engineering standards, resulting in danger to others and causing deaths, according to a statement from the Office of the Attorney General.
Additional charges include forgery and use of forged documents.
Several of those indicted Thursday had already surrendered to police and denied any wrongdoing.
Heavy machineries are deployed to clear the rubble from an under construction State Audit building that collapsed after Friday’s earthquake in Bangkok, on April 3, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Natawalanch Fanmongkol)
An investigation by police and other officials found design and structural flaws were behind the building’s collapse and that some of the officially approved designs were not implemented.
The epicenter of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country’s second-biggest city, and in the capital Naypyitaw.
The indictment of Italian-Thai Development’s Premchai is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons while hunting in a wildlife sanctuary for which he served about three years in prison.
