Thailand continues its third consecutive appearance at the Beijing International Film Festival 2025. The highlight of this year is an incentive program offering up to 30% cash rebates for foreign film productions
BANGKOK — Thailand aims to attract Chinese film productions worth over 500 million baht ($15 million) as the Department of Tourism continues its third consecutive appearance at the Beijing International Film Festival 2025.
More than 100 filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals braved heavy rain Friday afternoon to walk the red carpet at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center for the opening of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), which runs from April 18-26.
Mr. Jaturon Phakdeewanich, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, revealed that the department’s Thailand Film Office (TFO) is participating in the festival from April 19-22, 2025, in Beijing, China.
Actors perform during the opening of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) in Beijing, China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)Thailand continues its third consecutive appearance at the Beijing International Film Festival 2025.
The Department of Tourism is bringing four Thai film industry companies to the event: Retina Film Production Co., Ltd., Right Beyond Co., Ltd., Ennoble Film Production Co., Ltd., and Hollywood (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
These companies will have exhibition booths and participate in business negotiations. The Department of Tourism will promote Thailand’s capabilities as an international filming location while highlighting its incentive program offering up to 30% cash rebates for foreign film productions.
“This year, we’ve set a target to generate more than 500 million baht in revenue from Chinese film crews shooting in Thailand,” Mr. Jaturon added.
The Thai government places significant importance on promoting foreign film production in Thailand as it creates jobs and income for Thai crew members and related businesses in filming locations. Additionally, it generates tourism interest as visitors often travel to locations featured in popular films.
FILE - A Cambodian national flag is displayed during a groundbreaking ceremony of China-funded Funan Techo canal that will connect the country's capital Phnom Penh with Kep province on the country's south coast, Prek Takeo village, Kendal province, Cambodia, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia and China have signed a $1.2 billion deal to finance an ambitious canal project that aims to boost trade efficiency by linking a branch of the Mekong River near Phnom Penh to a port on the Gulf of Thailand, the Cambodian government agency heading the project announced Friday.
The deal to fund the Funan Techo Canal was signed Thursday during the state visit to Cambodia of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the agency said in a news release. Xi returned home Friday after a three-nation Southeast Asian tour that also included Vietnam and Malaysia.
FILE – A view from a water gate to the Funan Techo Canal connecting from Mekong River at Prek Takeo village, eastern Phnom Penh Cambodia, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
Construction of the 151.6-kilometer (94-mile) canal began last year but was halted shortly after the Aug. 5 groundbreaking ceremony for reasons that were not made clear. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said at the time that the canal will be built “no matter what the cost,” emphasizing that the project promotes “national prestige, the territorial integrity and the development of Cambodia.”
Described as a public-private partnership contract, the deal was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol on behalf of Cambodia’s government, and by Ieng Sunly of the Funan Techo Coastal-Inland Waterways Company Ltd., the private sector partner. The project is being developed on a build-operate-transfer basis, with Cambodian investors holding a 51% stake, and Chinese investors holding 49%.
“The canal will create a new inland waterway-maritime corridor capable of handling vessels up to 3,000 deadweight tons,” according to Friday’s announcement. It will encompass canal excavation and the construction of ship locks, navigation and logistics infrastructure.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Hun Manet, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jingping during a welcome meeting in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
“As an inland waterway and important transport infrastructure in Cambodia, the FTC Project will become a new engine driving national economic growth,” said Wang Tongzhou, chairman of China Communications Construction Company, in the announcement. He added that “after completion, it will significantly reduce the comprehensive logistics costs in Cambodia, and promote Cambodia’s industry to the middle-to-high end of the value chain.”
China Communications Construction Company is the parent company of China Road and Bridge Corporation, the contractor for the project’s construction from the Bassac River to the coastal province of Kep. The massive state-owned firm has faced scrutiny for its alleged involvement in financial scandals. It is also blacklisted by the United States for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea.
According to Friday’s announcement, the canal is expected to create “up to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in Cambodia.”
Critics have raised concerns that the canal could severely disrupt the Mekong River’s natural flood patterns. These disruptions could lead to worsening droughts and a reduction in the nutrient-rich silt essential for Vietnam’s vital rice production in the Mekong Delta, a region that sustains millions of people and is a major global rice exporter.
The signing announcement, however, stated that “A rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment, conducted by 48 specialists, confirmed minimal environmental impact.”
It added that the Cambodian government has led efforts to minimize resettlement “with a route designed to avoid dense communities and cultural sites” and that “a responsible compensation and consultation process is underway.”
A Mauritian tourist shares photos of an unexpected experience - being hit with eggs in front of Hua Hin Railway Station simply for using a taxi app.
PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN — Hua Hin police have successfully apprehended suspects responsible for throwing eggs at a Mauritian female tourist. The motorcycle taxi driver claims the act was motivated by stress over declining income. Despite the incident, the tourists have forgiven the perpetrators, stating that Thailand remains the “Land of Smiles” and that they now love Hua Hin even more.
On April 18, Police Colonel Kampanart Na Wichai, Superintendent of Hua Hin Police Station, addressed the case of a tourist who shared photos of an unexpected experience – being hit with eggs in front of Hua Hin Railway Station simply for using a taxi app.
The incident occurred on April 17 at approximately 7:00 p.m. when a male Mauritian tourist, traveling with her spouse, arrived at Hua Hin Railway Station. After calling a Grab car to take them to their accommodation, unknown individuals threw eggs at the vehicle, soiling the female tourist’s clothing.
Disturbed by the experience, they posted a warning on the “Life in Hua Hin” Facebook group, which garnered significant public attention and widespread criticism of the perpetrators’ behavior.
Colonel Kampanart stated that after learning of the incident, he immediately ordered officers to track down those responsible. The investigation team reviewed CCTV footage from the area and discovered three similar incidents had occurred between April 12-17.
The perpetrator who threw eggs at a Mauritian tourist in Hua Hin performs a respectful wai gesture, apologizing to the female tourist at Hua Hin Police Station after being arrested and charged on April 18, 2025.
Officers subsequently gathered evidence and arrested two suspects: “Ms. A” (pseudonym), a motorcycle taxi driver, and Ms. B (pseudonym), a 16-year-old female minor. Both confessed to the crime.
Investigation revealed the motive stemmed from accumulated stress, as the driver’s income had significantly decreased over the past 3-4 months, with Grab cars frequently picking up passengers they considered potential customers. The suspects insisted they had no intention to harm tourists or damage Hua Hin’s reputation. Police have collected evidence and are proceeding with legal charges.
The couple later posted a message thanking Hua Hin police and locals: “We sincerely thank the people of Hua Hin and all tourists for their encouragement after yesterday’s egg-throwing incident. The police professionally brought us to meet the perpetrators for questioning. We commend the officers and Sunday who tirelessly worked alongside Thai police.”
The female tourist continued, “The perpetrator is a youth from an impoverished family. As a teacher who works with young people, I understand the stress and pressure they face, so we requested the police merely issue a warning to prevent such incidents from happening to other tourists. Thai people are hardworking, which is why we return to Thailand 2-3 times annually. We love the ‘Land of Smiles’ and love Hua Hin even more today.
CCTV footage on April 16, 2025 shows a Chinese female tourist forgetting her wallet at the counter. Few minutes later, the elderly Thai woman takes it.
BANGKOK — Pathumwan police arrested a 71-year-old Thai woman identified as Ms. Weena, or “Wee,” on theft charges after she allegedly stole a wallet belonging to a Chinese tourist at CentralWorld shopping mall.
The arrest took place on April 18 at the entrance to Soi 47 on Rama IV Road in Bangkok’s Sathorn district. Officers recovered several items of evidence, including Chinese currency, a Bank of China credit card, and the distinctive clothing worn during the theft.
According to police reports, a 28-year-old Chinese tourist filed a complaint on April 16 stating that her gray wallet containing approximately 20,000 baht, 800 yuan in Chinese currency, and a Bank of China credit card had been stolen after she accidentally left it while shopping on the mall’s second floor.
The elderly woman is arrested on April 18 with evidence including 200 yuan in Chinese banknotes, a Bank of China credit card, and a Chinese identity card.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and identified an elderly Thai woman wearing rose-colored glasses, a green and white striped shirt, and green pants with gold chain patterns taking the forgotten wallet.
After extensive surveillance, officers located Ms. Weena, whose appearance matched the suspect captured on CCTV. A search revealed she was carrying 200 yuan in Chinese banknotes, a Bank of China credit card, and a Chinese identity card.
When questioned, the elderly suspect reportedly admitted to the theft, claiming it was “a momentary lapse of attention driven by desire.”
Ms. Weena has been charged with theft and handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
Three submissions from Thailand highlight the country's rich cultural heritage and historical significance in Southeast Asia.
UNESCO has expanded its Memory of the World International Register with 74 new documentary heritage collections, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570.
The newly added entries represent 72 countries and 4 international organizations, covering diverse topics including the scientific revolution, women’s contributions to history, and major milestones in multilateralism.
Among the newly recognized collections are three submissions from Thailand, highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage and historical significance in Southeast Asia.
The first Thai-related inscription, “The Birth of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN),” was jointly submitted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. This collection documents the establishment of ASEAN by its five founding nations in 1967, featuring the original ASEAN Declaration and related records.
The Birth of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) (National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia – ANRI)
The archives showcase how these newly independent countries worked to transform neighborly relations into friendships built on mutual trust, demonstrating their agency in creating a more peaceful regional landscape.
Thailand’s second inscription, “The Manuscript of Nanthopananthasut Kamlaung,” dates back to July 22, 1736. This 190-page manuscript on khoi-paper contains Buddhist literature depicting Buddha taming Nanthopanantha-naga.
The Manuscript of Nanthopananthasut Kamlaung, 1736 (The Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand)
The document showcases complex literary forms, timeless moral values, and sophisticated multilingual manuscript traditions, reflecting Ayutthaya’s centuries of cultural interchange in Buddhism, translation, and literacy.
The third Thai entry, “The King of the White Elephant and the archival documents,” features a groundbreaking 1940 Thai feature film. Notable as the first Thai film presented in English and the only surviving Thai film from the pre-World War II era, this black-and-white production skillfully blends traditional Thai performances with Western cinematic techniques. Created at the onset of World War II, the film promotes a message of peace and harmony.
The King of the White Elephant and the archival documents, 1940 (The Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand)
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme continues to preserve documentary heritage of global significance, ensuring these valuable cultural treasures remain accessible for future generations.
Police arrest 2 of the 7 Indian men involved in kidnapping their fellow countrymen in a room at a house in Soi Santikam 8, Sukhumvit 109, Samrong Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18, 2025.
BANGKOK — Police have rescued three Indian nationals who were kidnapped and held for ransom by fellow countrymen in Bangkok. Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
Police Major General Wason Techaakkarasem, Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police, stated that Mr. Sandhu, 22, and five male Indian accomplices: Sourav, 26; Simranjit, 35; Abhishek, 25; Nitin, 36; Gurwinder, 35; and one Pakistani national, Muhammad, 57, were apprehended at a house located in Soi Santikam 8, Samrong Nuea, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18.
This group of suspects entered Thailand legally. Immigration officials are currently checking their backgrounds and coordinating with the Indian embassy to request detailed information.
A moment police raided the house to rescue three Indian victims who were tied up and detained by their countrymen in a room at a house in Soi Santikam 8, Sukhumvit 109, Samrong Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18, 2025.
Background of the Case
According to police reports, on April 5, Sanjeev, who filed the report that his friends had been kidnapped, traveled to Thailand for tourism with Ramesh and Amandeep. They initially stayed at a hotel in Bangkok’s Sathorn area before moving to Diamond Residence Hotel, room 305, on Silom Road in Bang Rak district on April 11, 2025.
On April 14, 2025, between 6:00-7:00 p.m., Ramesh and Amandeep left the hotel with an unidentified Indian man who picked them up in a taxi, allegedly to travel ahead to Vietnam. Sanjeev did not join them as he had not yet received his visa approval.
On April 16, 2025, Ramesh’s sister contacted Sanjeev via WhatsApp, informing him that she had received communication from someone named Sandhu who claimed to be holding the pair captive. The kidnapper demanded a ransom of 2,500,000 Indian rupees (approximately $29,272) and threatened harm if the demand was not met.
Police arrest 2 of the 7 Indian men involved in kidnapping their fellow countrymen in a room at a house in Soi Santikam 8, Sukhumvit 109, Samrong Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18, 2025.
Ransom and Threats
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wason said that the group of Indians pretended to be agents who would arrange jobs for their fellow countrymen in Australia. However, they claimed that the victims needed to stay in Bangkok to process documents. They then tricked and detained the victims in a rented house with another Indian victim, Patel, 40, who had been similarly lured from Don Mueang Airport.
The suspects contacted the victims’ relatives demanding money transfers from India, approximately 1 million baht ($30,000) per person. They threatened that if the victims didn’t comply or contact their relatives, they would be harmed and have body parts cut off.
Police Investigation
Investigators gathered evidence from Sanjeev’s testimony, hotel records, and CCTV footage. They tracked the taxi used in the abduction and coordinated with immigration authorities to verify travel records. After tracing the phone number used by the kidnappers, police located and rescued Ramesh, Amandeep, and Patel at the house in Samut Prakan Province.
All seven suspects were taken to Yannawa Police Station for interrogation and have been charged with illegal detention and attempted extortion. The value of damages so far is approximately 30,000 baht, as officials intervened during the ransom negotiation process.
AIS, in collaboration with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has conducted a successful test of the mobile emergency alert system “Cell Broadcast,” now compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. The test confirmed that alerts could be delivered across both platforms following Apple’s recent rollout of Cell Broadcast support in iOS 18 for iPhone users in Thailand. AIS recommends that all iPhone users promptly update their devices to iOS 18 to ensure they can receive emergency alerts.
This marks a significant step forward in enhancing Thailand’s national emergency alert readiness, enabling timely communication of critical information to the public. The test was conducted at the NBTC auditorium on Friday, April 18, 2025, and was attended by Trairat Viriyasirikul, Acting Secretary-General of NBTC; Waroonthep Watcharaporn, Head of Business Relations, AIS; and Wasit Wattanasap, Head of Nationwide Operations and Support Business Unit, AIS.
Currently, while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is developing the Cell Broadcast Entity (CBE) — the government’s command and control system — the agency has requested the cooperation of mobile operators to disseminate emergency alerts via two systems:
Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) via operators
Available on Android smartphones running version 12 or higher
Available on iPhones running iOS 18
** Note: CBS is not supported on:
2G and 3G devices
iPhone X (10) smartphones or earlier that cannot be updated to iOS 18
SMS System
Still necessary to send SMS messages to address the limitations of the CBS, which is not compatible with 2G, 3G phones and iPhone X (10) smartphones or earlier
DDPM will manage the SMS dispatches, including the alert message content, targeted locations, and provinces. Messages will be sent through SMS Sender Names such as “DDPM” (Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation) and “TMD” (Thai Meteorological Department).
Officials detain a Swedish passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport after he traveled from Udon Thani Airport and left suspicious objects in his luggage, on April 17, 2025.
UDON THANI — Officials at Udon Thani International Airport were alarmed after detecting explosive precursor materials in a Swedish passenger’s luggage, prompting them to call in an EOD unit for investigation.
At 8:00 p.m. on April 17, Thipawan Wangsanuwat, Director of Udon Thani International Airport, notified Udon Thani City Police Station that a male Swedish passenger had left some of his luggage behind under suspicious circumstances. The authorities requested additional support from relevant agencies.
Udon Thani Airport officials evacuate passengers of the last flight from the passenger terminal after discovering suspicious objects that needed examination, on April 17, 2025.
CCTV footage revealed the luggage belonged to Eric, 58, who was traveling from Udon Thani Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport on AirAsia flight FB 4353, departing Udon Thani at 8:20 p.m. He left the suspicious items at Terminal 2 of the airport.
When notified, officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport located Eric, who was uncooperative and subsequently detained pending investigation. Examination of the suspicious items revealed “Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP),” an explosive precursor. K9 units were called in for additional screening, and a “Taylor Tank Bomb” (blast reducer) was moved to the location where the bag was found.
EOD officials bring the suspicious object outside the passenger terminal at Udon Thani Airport for examination on April 17, 2025. Results showed it was not an explosive device.
After all airlines had their last passengers depart, EOD Unit 23 from Udon Thani (Royal Thai Air Force) conducted the removal operation with support units standing by. After about 30 minutes, they concluded there were no dangerous materials or illegal items present.
Eric, the Swedish owner of the luggage, later admitted the bag contained used clothes and Thai herbs he intended to take back to Sweden but had decided not to bring aboard due to issues. This matched the contents found in the bag: unwashed used clothes, personal items, and dried herbs including butterfly pea flowers, roselle, bael fruit, and others.
Officials concluded that the explosive precursor detection might have come from the passenger’s clothes if he had been in places related to explosives, sound and light shows, or traditional Isan firecrackers and rocket festivals. They emphasized that all security procedures were properly followed.
Officials gather around the suspicious package after it was proven not to be an explosive, outside the passenger terminal at Udon Thani Airport late Thursday night, April 17, 2025.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Hun Manet, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jingping during a welcome meeting in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cambodia on Thursday for a two-day state visit that serves as an opportunity to further strengthen China’s already robust relations with its closest ally in Southeast Asia.
The visit, Xi’s first since 2016, concludes a three-nation tour that included stops in Vietnam and Malaysia. China has been increasing its influence in the region over the past decade, largely by exercising its substantial economic leverage.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet recently described Beijing as “an important and indispensable friend of Cambodia that has helped support the country’s economic and social development.”
Xi was welcomed at the airport in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh by King Norodom Sihamoni, who later granted him a royal audience. Xi also met later with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen, who is Hun Manet’s father and predecessor as prime minister.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen, right, walks together with Chinese President Xi Jingping, left, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
In a statement at the airport after his arrival on his presidential aircraft, an American-made Air China Boeing 747, Xi declared “Cambodia is a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy.”
“China will unswervingly support Cambodia in upholding strategic autonomy and in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions,” he said, according to a transcript distributed by the Chinese embassy.
Trade was likely a major topic of Xi’s discussions in Cambodia, which faces among the highest tariff rates proposed by Washington. In addition to Trump’s universal 10% tariff, the country faces the threat of a 49% tax on exports to the U.S. once his 90-day pause expires.
Xi’s tour was organized before Trump announced his global “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2.
In Vietnam and Malaysia, Xi emphasized strengthening ties, particularly in trade and investment, amid global economic uncertainties and the backdrop of trade tensions with the United States. He underscored the need to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and uphold the multilateral trading system.
China is presenting itself as a source of stability and certainty as Southeast Asia; where Trump’s tariffs threaten the region’s export-oriented economies whose largest markets are generally the United States.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, center right, and Chinese President Xi Jingping, center left, attend a welcome ceremony at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
“The timing of the visit is extraordinarily auspicious for China, falling just in the wake of the announcement of Trump’s tariffs that have caused managed consternation in Cambodia and Vietnam,” while also causing “upset” in Malaysia, which faces lower rates, Astrid Norén-Nilsson, a senior lecturer in the Study of Contemporary South-East Asia at Sweden’s Lund University, commented in an email interview.
“Xi Jinping can now carry out the tour equipped with the moral authority and goodwill of a singularly constant friend and reliable trading partner.”
In addition to discussing bilateral ties and regional and international issues, Hun Manet said on the Telegram social and messaging app that he and Xi presided over the signing of 37 documents covering investment, trade, education, finance, information, youth work, agriculture, health, water resources, tourism, women’s affairs and other subjects.
Xi’s visit came on the 50th anniversary of the April 17, 1975 takeover of Cambodia by the communist Khmer Rouge, who imposed a reign of terror with Maoist-inspired policies that saw an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians die of starvation, overwork or executions.
Beijing was the main foreign backer of the Khmer Rouge and supported the group in carrying on a guerrilla war even after it was ousted from power in 1979 by an invasion from Vietnam, though such history is rarely discussed by either country.
Cambodia’s rapid growth in recent decades has been fueled largely by Beijing.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, front right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jingping, front left, during a welcome meeting at Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
In Hun Manet’s remarks earlier this month at the inauguration of a Chinese-funded road, he called China “a first-class partner country,” pointing to achievements like the inauguration of the Chinese-named Angkor Siem Reap Airport and a Phnom Penh ring road named after Xi as evidence of continued strong relations and gratitude, and noted China’s continued ranking as the top investor in Cambodia in 2024.
China is Cambodia’s largest trading partner, surpassing $15 billion in 2024 and representing nearly 30% of Cambodia’s total trade volume, though greatly in Beijing’s favor.
Beijing also helped fund an expansion of the Ream Naval Base on Cambodia’s southern coast, raising worries it could become a strategic outpost for the Chinese navy in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia has repeatedly denied any agreement granting China special privileges or the establishment of a foreign military base.
Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at its new pier, provided they comply with certain conditions. Japan announced on Tuesday that two of its minesweepers will visit the Ream base this weekend in the first foreign navy visit since the expansion project was completed.
Damage to the BMW driven by a politician's son that crashed into a pickup truck on the highway near the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok exit on April 16, 2025.
BANGKOK — The son of a Thai politician is under fire after he drove a BMW recklessly and rammed into another vehicle. This sparked public outrage and drew comparisons to the infamous 2012 hit-and-run case involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, who fled the country to avoid prosecution.
However, the national police chief insists that this case will not go the same way.
On April 17, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, responded to a viral clip showing a red-painted BMW swerving in front of a pickup truck on the highway near the Rangsit–Nakhon Nayok exit late on April 16.
The pickup lost control and crashed into the roadside. The elderly driver, 65, suffered broken ribs and remains in intensive care, while a female passenger, 64, sustained minor injuries.
Damage to the pickup truck that was hit by a BMW driven by a politician’s son on the highway near the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok exit on April 16, 2025.
The incident sparked a wave of public criticism after it was revealed that the BMW driver was a local council candidate with close ties to a well-known local politician.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat, who had seen the video, condemned the BMW driver’s behavior as “disgusting” and unacceptable in society.
“I am sad that people still drive like this on our roads. What if a child had been in that vehicle? This kind of behavior has no place in society,” he said.
He urged the public to drive calmly and considerately and emphasized that such reckless actions are intolerable and must be punished by all means available.
A screenshot from CCTV shows the moment of accident.
“The perpetrator not only broke the law, but also displayed a complete lack of conscience, especially by bragging about his connections to a famous politician in the area in order to appear influential. This person shows no remorse, continues to brag and clearly lacks maturity and responsibility. Society is watching closely to see how this case unfolds as it will test the fairness and transparency of the Thai justice system,” he added.
Pol. Col. Kuekkong Disawat, superintendent of Highway Police Division 8, said authorities will wait until the injured are released from the hospital and the medical reports are ready before summoning both sides for questioning. Charges are expected to be filed sometime next week.
Evidence has already been collected, including dashcam footage and Department of Highways video footage. Preliminary investigations show that the accident occurred as both vehicles exited the M-Four toll plaza at KM 26+100 in Thanyaburi.
At this point, the road narrowed from three lanes to two lanes. The pickup truck moved into the right lane and cut in front of the BMW. The BMW then lost control and crashed into the crash barrier, leading to the sequence of events seen in the video.
Pol. Col. Kuekkong said that when checking the BMW driver’s alcohol level, none was found. The officers therefore took his statement to gather details and recorded it in the daily log as evidence.
Meanwhile, Kritsada Leenawarattana, former mayor of Thanyaburi Subdistrict and father of the BMW driver, Smithipat “Peach” Leenawarattana in this case, gave an interview to reporters while visiting those injured by his son’s actions at the hospital in the Rangsit area. He said, “I’m not worried. My son did wrong and apologized. I’m not taking my son’s side. I don’t know where my son is going. I haven’t seen him.” He spoke with evident emotional displeasure.
