Thailand is changing fast, and energy costs and trends are affecting everyone's life. Are you ready for the era of electric vehicles and new energy technologies transforming Thai society? Matichon invites you to hear firsthand answers from the country's top experts.

On August 13, Matichon Editorial announced plans for a major year-end seminar titled "New Energy for Thailand: Energy Transition and Betting on Thailand's Future" on Monday, August 26, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Infinity Room 1-2, Pullman King Power Bangkok. The event will bring together senior speakers and experts.

An exclusive speaker lineup will be led by Wattanapong Kurotwat, director of the Office of Energy Policy and Planning, who will unveil Thailand's Net Zero energy plan. Surojn Saengsanit, chairman of the Thai Electric Vehicle Association (EVAT), will address the future of electric vehicles. Executives from major corporations including Bangchak, Sansiri, and Gulf will explain digital-era energy and eco-friendly housing in accessible terms.

Key highlights include a special address by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Eknit Nitithanpraphas, and an in-depth panel discussion on small modular reactors (SMR) as a potential new hope for Thailand. The event will be hosted by well-known media personality Banchha Chumchaiwet.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reiterated that the investigation into local government exam fraud will show no favoritism or connections, stating that anyone found guilty will face prosecution. Speaking in Nakhon Ratchasima on August 14, he addressed allegations circulated by the STRONG anti-corruption network page that claimed a Satun permanent secretary acted as a middleman in the cheating scheme. The PM confirmed that the Anti-Money Laundering Office, National Anti-Corruption Commission, and Royal Thai Police are coordinating their investigation. He stated that each agency will conduct its own inquiry before conclusions are drawn, and if wrongdoing is found, the case will be referred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution. "Whoever commits wrongdoing must face prosecution with no exceptions, no connections, no shortcuts, and no limits," the PM said, emphasizing that no high-ranking official is beyond investigation.

Thai actress cleared in 2.4 billion baht Forex-3D fraud caseLegacy Thailand’s Criminal Court has acquitted actress Savika Chaiyadej, her mother Sarinya and her brother Kittichet in the Forex-3D fraud case. The ruling, handed down yesterday, August 13, comes almost four years after prosecutors filed charges on August 18, 2022. The case, Black 853/2564, was brought by the Office of the Attorney General’s Special Case Prosecution Division 4 against Apirak Kotthi, two linked companies, Savika and her family, and others, totalling 24 defendants. The charges covered joint borrowing amounting to public fraud and offences under the Computer Crimes Act. Prosecutors alleged that between November 24, 2015 and September 8, 2020, the group deceived the public through the Forex-3D website and Facebook page, claiming a professional team traded client funds in the foreign exchange market and guaranteeing 100% of the principal with no losses. In reality, no trading took place. The court found the company had never been licensed by the Bank of Thailand, and that the scheme instead used new investors’ money to pay returns to earlier investors, a Ponzi-style structure, with a large number of nominee bank accounts used to obscure the money trail. About 9,822 people invested a combined 2.489 billion baht in the scheme. The court found that Apirak and the group’s core leadership had genuinely engaged in the deception. Five individuals were convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for each of the 9,822 counts against them, a total of 49,110 years each, capped by law at the maximum of 20 years served. The five are Apirak, platform programmer Supinyo Meesomprat, Apirak’s personal secretary Natthee (also known as Warit), records custodian Thassiwan Chantharanukul, and Apirak’s wife, Pakamon Seelun. Two companies linked to the case, RMS Family Co., Ltd. and Mee Dee Pay Co., Ltd., were fined a combined 4.911 billion baht. RMS Family is represented by Kittichet (also known as Sarayuth) Chaiyadej, Savika’s brother, in his capacity as the company’s representative; this is separate from his personal acquittal as an individual defendant. The defendants found responsible were also ordered to repay victims in full with statutory interest. For Savika, her mother and her brother, the court examined their financial records and found more than 40 million baht in circulating funds, along with a close relationship with Apirak dating from before the company was founded. Savika Chaiyadej | Photo via Thairath It concluded this was consistent with genuine investment returns and with Savika’s income as an actress, rather than a fabricated portfolio, and found no evidence the three had solicited others to invest. The court gave them the benefit of the doubt and acquitted them along with other unconnected defendants, acquitting 19 people in total. According to reporters in the courtroom, Savika, her mother and her brother embraced after the acquittal was read. One of the convicted defendants, the programmer, was reported to have cried after his sentence was read. Savika, defendant number seven, was free on 5 million baht bail during the trial, while other defendants were held in custody. She told a Thairath reporter after the verdict that she was relieved by the ruling, and said she would go to collect her mother and brother from prison. As of publication, no public statement has been issued by Apirak. Other defendants tied to the Forex-3D case have been tried separately, including singer Pattanapon “DJ Man” Kunchon and his wife, singer Sutheewan “Baitoey” Thaweesin, who were acquitted by the Criminal Court on December 26, 2024. That ruling is currently under consideration by the Appeal Court. The story Thai actress cleared in 2.4 billion baht Forex-3D fraud case as seen on Thaiger News.

At 6:00 a.m. on August 14, officers from Bang Bua Thong Police Station in Nonthaburi, along with rescue personnel from Bang Bua Thong Hospital, Bang Rak Pattana Municipality rescue, and volunteer medics, responded to a report of a covered pickup truck striking a monk crossing the road with critical injuries. The incident occurred on Bangkruay-Tha Rai Road near Chaiyamajuri Lane in Bang Rak Pattana Subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province.

Rescuers found local residents performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Phra Phinit, approximately 65–70 years old, a monk from Wat Bang Phai, after he was hit by the white Isuzu covered pickup while crossing the street. Emergency responders continued resuscitation efforts before transporting him urgently to Bang Bua Thong Hospital.

Police located the white Isuzu pickup truck with visible damage to the front right corner parked nearby. The driver stated that when he reached the accident site, Phra Phinit had walked quickly from the left side to cross to the right, but crossed at such a short distance that he could not brake in time, causing the collision.

The abbot of Wat Bang Phai noted that Phra Phinit regularly walks his alms round alone from the temple at Bang Plu intersection and travels to nearby Rung Rueang 6 village, but expressed uncertainty whether this particular crossing pattern was his usual routine.

Police said they will review closed-circuit camera footage at the scene and conduct further questioning of the driver.

A 61-year-old former director of a tambon health-promoting hospital in Phatthalung was injured when his pickup truck crashed into a parked vehicle, damaged a government road sign and overturned on Ban Khuan Thop Road in Phaya Khan subdistrict, Mueang district, shortly after midnight on August 14, 2026. The driver, identified as Sukwit, suffered facial cuts from broken windscreen glass and initially refused to leave the damaged vehicle, remaining inside using his phone and arguing with officials. Responders said he appeared intoxicated. After several minutes of persuasion, he agreed to be taken to hospital for treatment. Police documented the damage to the road sign and parked vehicle for possible compensation claims and will conduct an alcohol breath test or blood sample collection in accordance with procedure before considering legal action.

Bangkok Asset Management (BAM), led by CEO Rak Worakitphokathon, reported at an analyst meeting that second-quarter collections reached 3.513 billion baht, up from the prior quarter. First-half 2025 collections totaled 6.539 billion baht with net profit of 451 million baht, signaling steady operational recovery. The company aims to build a resilient business model in the second half by strengthening long-term performance through several key engines: the TDR Factory, selective debt investment, continuous cost-of-funds management, and expansion of joint-venture asset management companies to create quality, diversified revenue streams while reducing dependence on large borrowers.

BAM is accelerating its "Fresh Start with BAM" program, which uses flexible debt restructuring to help debtors return to sustainable economic participation while converting non-performing loans back into steady cash flow. The company is also scaling up its "Public Assets Plus" non-performing asset business to accelerate asset circulation and expand the customer base with easier terms for public access.

A major second-half strategy is expanding joint-venture asset management companies with financial institution partners. BAM plans to establish three additional joint-venture entities, with the first expected in late third quarter 2025. These joint ventures will leverage BAM's expertise in managing non-performing and non-performing assets alongside partner resources, creating revenue and long-term return opportunities without relying solely on assets BAM holds directly.

Combining company assets with those held by joint-venture partners under the "BAM Universe," BAM forecasts its total portfolio will exceed 600 billion baht by year-end 2025. This marks a shift from growth based solely on BAM's own portfolio to building an asset management ecosystem where partners play a central role. BAM targets 2025 net profit near 2 billion baht while strengthening revenue diversification and consistency, reducing big-ticket dependence, accelerating the TDR Factory, speeding non-performing asset sales, and expanding joint-venture partnerships to create multiple revenue engines.