Lanta & News
No. 01 · ENDLESS
Police

Education Official Claims Flash Drive Delivery Followed Orders

A university testing center director admitted delivering a flash drive to a corruption suspect but claimed he was following orders from a former government official in a rigged civil service exam case.

Education Official Claims Flash Drive Delivery Followed Orders
31 Jul Khaosod

On July 31, 2025, at the Central Investigation Police Bureau, officials reported progress in a corruption case involving a rigged local government civil service recruitment examination. Rueangdech Sirikij, director of Srinakharinwirot University's education and psychology testing center, along with four others from a residence in Nonthaburi province, arrived for questioning starting at 7:00 a.m. Investigators conducted separate detailed interviews lasting over six hours.

During questioning, all five individuals cooperated with investigators and acknowledged certain facts and details related to the incident, but maintained their denials of the charges. Their statements were recorded for use alongside other evidence being gathered. Specifically, Rueangdech acknowledged that he delivered a flash drive to Win, a suspect arrested earlier, but insisted he was merely following job instructions or his terms of reference on orders from Theerutt Suphavibulyaphol, the former permanent secretary of the Department of Local Administration. He stated the two knew each other through their work in education circles.

Meanwhile, investigators continue calling other related individuals for additional information. Theerutt Suphavibulyaphol requested a postponement of his scheduled interview and has been rescheduled for August 6, while other individuals involved have asked to defer their statements until August 10. Investigators will continue questioning related parties before proceeding with the legal process.

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National

PTT Stations Offer 1-Baht-Per-Liter Discount on Self-Serve Fuel

PTT Station is expanding self-service fuel pumping to over 204 locations nationwide with a 1-baht-per-liter discount through August using the blueplus+ app. The service aims to reduce waiting times and offer customers a faster, more conveni

PTT Stations Offer 1-Baht-Per-Liter Discount on Self-Serve Fuel
31 Jul Khaosod

PTT Station is rolling out self-service fuel pumping across over 204 stations nationwide, emphasizing a complete "order, pump, pay" process through the blueplus+ mobile application. The service now features Blue Wallet as an additional payment method, along with a limited-time promotion offering a 1-baht-per-liter discount for customers using self-serve via blueplus+ between August 1–31.

On July 31, 2026, Piman Poolsri, senior vice president of retail oil business at PTT Oil and Retail Trade Company Limited (OR), announced that PTT Station aims to innovate and upgrade services for modern consumers seeking convenience, speed, and self-management capabilities. Expanding self-serve options across 204 stations nationwide will make the service more accessible and help reduce waiting times, especially during peak hours.

The Self Serve system was developed under an "Easy & Smart" concept, allowing customers to complete every step—from ordering to pumping to payment—through the blueplus+ app. The service operates in five simple steps: select a station and fuel type via the app, lift the pump nozzle, insert it fully into the fuel tank, squeeze and hold until fueling is complete, and return the nozzle to its slot.

Customers can try the self-serve experience at participating PTT Station locations nationwide by searching for compatible stations through the blueplus+ app, checking usage history, and accessing additional details via the PTT Station Facebook page or the contact center at 1365 (or 02-239-9997 for technical support).

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National

Thailand Launches Free Online PDPA Data Protection Course

Thailand's Personal Data Protection Committee has launched a free online learning platform offering courses on data protection for professionals and the public, with nearly 80,000 learners already registered since launch. The e-Learning sys

Thailand Launches Free Online PDPA Data Protection Course
31 Jul Khaosod

The Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) is expanding public access to data protection knowledge through its free "PDPC e-Learning" platform, an online learning system open to the public and professionals from all sectors. The platform allows users to learn about personal data protection at no cost, accessible from anywhere and at any time, eliminating financial and travel barriers. Learners can study flexibly on their own schedule, and upon completing the course and meeting requirements, they receive an e-Certificate from the PDPC to document their learning and support career and organizational development.

Pol. Col. Surpong Phlangkham, Secretary-General of the Personal Data Protection Committee, explained that PDPC e-Learning is an important mechanism to make data protection knowledge accessible and widely available to the public. The PDPC designed the curriculum for both professionals who collect, use, or disclose personal data and general citizens seeking to understand their rights and how to protect their information.

"PDPC e-Learning aims to remove barriers to learning—whether cost, time, location, or travel. Learners can study and manage their own schedules through our online system, and upon completion and meeting standards, they receive a certificate from the PDPC that can help develop their personal and organizational capabilities," Surpong said, noting the platform leverages digital technology to broaden access to data protection knowledge.

Surpong reported strong uptake since launch, with nearly 80,000 registered learners already exceeding initial targets, demonstrating significant public interest in learning about personal data protection. He added that in an era where digital technology and artificial intelligence play an increasingly large role in daily life, data protection should not be viewed merely as a legal burden or one department's responsibility, but rather as an organizational culture and shared responsibility across society—from collecting only necessary data to using it appropriately, maintaining security, and respecting data subjects' rights.

The PDPC curriculum contributes to raising Thailand's data protection standards nationally, as the knowledge gained helps reduce data breach incidents, close gaps that criminals might exploit, and build confidence in Thailand's digital economy and society. The PDPC will continue developing and updating the PDPC e-Learning curriculum to address evolving laws, technologies, and risk patterns, while expanding the knowledge base to all organizations and population groups.

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Regional

Australian Ambassador Raises Road Safety Concerns in Phuket

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum met Australian Ambassador to Thailand Pablo Kang today to discuss closer cooperation on tourist safety, as Australians continue to make up one of the islands largest visitor markets.

Australian Ambassador Raises Road Safety Concerns in Phuket
31 Jul The Phuket News

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum met Australian Ambassador to Thailand Pablo Kang today to discuss closer cooperation on tourist safety, as Australians continue to make up one of the islands largest visitor markets.

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National

School Probe Opens Into Principal's Sale of Building

An acting principal at a Phichit school sold the building without approval, forcing 41 students to study in a mango grove; an inspector will investigate the unauthorized sale on August 4.

School Probe Opens Into Principal's Sale of Building
31 Jul Khaosod

An inspector is set to visit Ban Taluk Hin School in Sahaket district, Phichit province, to investigate why the principal sold the school building, forcing 41 students to attend classes in a mango grove. The 41 primary students lost their classroom after the acting principal auctioned off the 50-year-old building without prior approval for its replacement. The provincial governor has ordered all students relocated to Taluk Hin Temple for temporary classes until a new building is ready. The Ministry of Education has approved 510,000 baht for a four-unit portable classroom structure, though the school is still gathering additional provincial funding for a permanent 2.7-million-baht facility. An inspector general will visit the school on August 4 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the building sale.

No. 05 of Read at source → Next
Police

Police Dismantle Vietnamese Scam Gang Impersonating Electricity Officials

Police dismantled a Vietnamese scam ring that impersonated electricity officials and defrauded 18 Thai victims of over 12 million baht by laundering stolen money through gold trading. Five suspects were arrested with 14 gold bars and cash s

Police Dismantle Vietnamese Scam Gang Impersonating Electricity Officials
31 Jul Khaosod

Cybercrime police have dismantled a Vietnamese scam gang impersonating electricity officials who tricked victims into transferring money before laundering it through gold trading, causing Thai victims to lose 12 million baht.

On July 31, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., senior police officials held a press conference announcing that cybercrime police had broken up the Vietnamese money-laundering gang operating through gold transactions and seized gold bars. According to Police Lieutenant General Surpol Preambut, commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division, the investigation began after a 61-year-old male victim received a phone call on July 9 from a scammer posing as an electricity official, claiming a transformer had problems and requesting insurance payment. The scammer provided a LINE account, conducted video calls, and sent a QR code. The criminals then instructed the victim to open a banking app, change it to English, and follow instructions. When OTP codes arrived, the scammers requested the numbers under the guise of queue numbers, ultimately resulting in three transfers totaling 1,799,400 baht.

Investigation of the money trail revealed that victim transfers went to corporate and personal accounts under the name Ms. Narissara, who withdrew cash at banks in the Rangsit area before passing it to network members. The corporate account transferred funds to purchase gold bars from shops in the Sampran area of Nakhon Pathom totaling 22 transactions worth 5 million baht, with Thai network members receiving the gold and passing it to Vietnamese coordinators who resold it at another gold shop in Nonthaburi for approximately 4 million baht in cash.

Over the past year, this Vietnamese gang has defrauded 18 Thai victims with combined losses exceeding 12 million baht. Courts issued arrest warrants for seven people: three Vietnamese and four Thai. Police arrested five suspects: two Vietnamese nationals—Mr. Nguyen Dinh Sang, 29, and Ms. Thi Thuydung Trinh, 25—who were caught preparing to sell gold. Officers seized 14 gold bars weighing 27.50 grams worth over 1.7 million baht, 66,500 baht in cash, three mobile phones, and two vehicles.

Three Thai suspects were also arrested: Ms. Narissara, 32, who withdrew and distributed cash; Mr. Phaitool (warrant suspect) arrested on Keha Ruamkled 37 Road, Bangkok; Mr. Sitthichat, 29; and Ms. Vasupass, 34, who received gold sales proceeds and distributed cash to network members. They were apprehended at a hotel on Sukhumvit Road in Nakhon Rayong province.

According to Deputy Police Lieutenant Colonel Kantpong, the two Vietnamese suspects claimed they were sent to Thailand to oversee Thai workers' gold purchases, but they also supervised or conducted gold sales themselves to prevent Thai members from absconding. Immigration records show they have entered Thailand multiple times over several years, most recently in late 2024.

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Police

Couple Sentenced for Stealing Lottery Ticket Worth 150,000 Baht

A husband and wife were sentenced to one year in prison for stealing a neighbor's winning 150,000-baht lottery ticket and burning it to destroy evidence, though they agreed to pay compensation and help her claim the prize.

Couple Sentenced for Stealing Lottery Ticket Worth 150,000 Baht
31 Jul Khaosod

A court has sentenced a husband and wife to one year in prison for stealing a first-prize lottery ticket belonging to Pa Khayan and burning it to destroy evidence. The couple has agreed to pay 150,000 baht in compensation and apologized in court. Pa Khayan has reserved her right to claim the prize money from the national lottery office.

The case began when Pa Khayan asked her neighbors to check her lottery ticket. The neighbors initially told her it had won the grand prize but then suggested she leave it with them for safekeeping. When Pa Khayan returned the next day to retrieve it, they claimed the ticket was a loser and had been thrown away. Police investigation revealed the neighbors had actually stolen the winning ticket and burned it to avoid legal trouble.

At trial, both defendants confessed to theft and destruction of property. The court sentenced each to one year imprisonment (reduced from the original charge), imposed a fine of 10,000 baht each, and ordered them to perform 24 hours of community service and report to a probation officer four times. The couple has committed to cooperating as witnesses to help Pa Khayan claim her lottery winnings from the national lottery office.

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Regional

Parliamentary Committee Reviews Phuket Airport Expansion Plans

A parliamentary committee visited Phuket International Airport to review expansion plans aimed at increasing passenger capacity and streamlining immigration processes to support anticipated tourism growth.

Parliamentary Committee Reviews Phuket Airport Expansion Plans
31 Jul The Phuket News

PHUKET: A parliamentary committee has inspected operations at Phuket International Airport as part of a field study into tourism management, with airport officials outlining plans to expand passenger capacity and improve immigration processing ahead of future tourism growth.

No. 08 of Read at source → Next
Regional

Pattaya Spartan Race Set to Draw 5,000 Athletes Worldwide

Over 5,000 athletes will compete in Thailand's 2026 Pattaya Spartan Race, with a record 2,000 kids participating and an expected economic impact of 250 million baht for the region.

Pattaya Spartan Race Set to Draw 5,000 Athletes Worldwide
31 Jul Khaosod

Over 5,000 athletes from around the world are preparing for the 2026 Pattaya Spartan Trifecta Weekend & HH12HR, which will set a new record for Spartan Kids with more than 2,000 participants, positioning Thailand as Asia's second-largest Spartan venue and generating an estimated 250 million baht in economic circulation.

A press conference was held on July 31, 2025, at The Tee, Club House building at Pattana Sports Resort in Sri Racha district, Chon Buri province, to announce the readiness for the 2026 Pattaya Spartan Trifecta Weekend & HH12HR at Wisdom Valley in Pattaya and Spartan Kids at Pattana Sports Resort in Chon Buri, scheduled for August 1–2, 2025.

The event was attended by Chaiyaporn Paepphimrattana, Deputy Governor of Chon Buri, who highlighted the province's capacity to host international competitions and welcome athletes and spectators from around the world. Rattanchai Sutthidechanuay, representing the MICE industry marketing office for the Eastern region under the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), discussed the successful acquisition of this world-class race license and cooperation among all sectors in advancing the MICE and sports tourism industries to create economic value for the region.

Also present were Bunperm Intanpasadhorn, CEO of Runrio Thailand; Thumbie Remigio, Race Director; Bodintr Chongruangreung, CEO of Pattana Sports Resort; and Jayakumar Tharmalingam, Brand Ambassador, all discussing their readiness to host the 2026 event and participating in a gift presentation to partners and sponsors.

TCEB, in collaboration with Chon Buri province, Runrio Thailand, and both public and private sector partners, is organizing the 2026 Pattaya Spartan Trifecta Weekend & HH12HR to elevate Thailand as a global hub for Spartan Race obstacle course running. This year's Spartan Kids event has set a record with more than 2,000 participants, ranking second in Asia and the world after China, which hosted nearly 20,000 Spartan Kids World Championship participants, reflecting the sport's growth among families and youth and reinforcing Thailand's capacity to host international competitions.

The festival features the Spartan Trifecta Weekend Pattaya at Wisdom Valley with three distances: Sprint at 5 kilometers with 20 obstacles, Super at 10 kilometers with 25 obstacles, and Beast at 21 kilometers with 30 obstacles. It also includes Hurricane Heat 12HR (HH12HR), a 12-hour continuous team challenge without official timing that emphasizes mission completion, endurance, and physical and mental strength. The Spartan Kids Race at Pattana Sports Resort targets children ages 4–14 with distances of 1–3 kilometers and includes family activities, with both events drawing nearly 5,000 total participants.

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Community

Rescue Volunteer Warns Against Fake Charity Scams

A veteran rescue volunteer warns donors to verify charity credentials and avoid fake fundraisers, cautioning that social media now exposes fraud that once went unnoticed in the rescue sector.

Rescue Volunteer Warns Against Fake Charity Scams
31 Jul Khaosod

Sai Thar, a veteran rescue volunteer, has criticized fraudsters posing as charity workers, warning donors to be cautious or risk "handing a knife to a thief." He emphasized that those without proper ethical standards should not enter the rescue field. Against the backdrop of recent scandals in the rescue community, public scrutiny has grown over the transparency of donated funds. Sai Thar noted that such problems have existed for decades, but social media now makes every action visible. He called on relevant authorities to address these issues seriously and prevent lasting damage to organizational and national reputation.

Sai Thar shared an example of someone falsely claiming to represent his foundation to solicit donations, stressing that genuine volunteers should not damage their organization's credibility. He urged the public to verify information before donating, cautioning that knowingly supporting someone with a questionable track record is equivalent to enabling fraud. He emphasized that the heart of volunteerism is integrity, not greed, and warned that people sometimes perceived as entirely good may not be what they appear.

When asked about drama in the rescue sector, Sai Thar acknowledged the issue has existed for years but notes the difference is social media exposure. He stated: "Everyone should know that even if no one sees what you do, you yourself know the truth in your heart. How can you claim to be good after acting that way?" He recounted encountering someone claiming to represent his foundation soliciting donations for coffins, which his organization already provides for free. He stressed that while people may have different perspectives on giving, knowingly supporting someone with a bad track record is risky.

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National

Thai Animated Series Ayothaya Ayeyarwady Debuts on YouTube

Clover Book releases Thai animated series Ayothaya Ayeyarwady on YouTube starting September 26, adapting a popular comic about two young royals from warring kingdoms who form an unlikely friendship despite their nations' conflict.

Thai Animated Series Ayothaya Ayeyarwady Debuts on YouTube
31 Jul Khaosod

Clover Book has released the first trailer for Ayothaya Ayeyarwady, a Thai animated series based on the popular comic by Thai illustrator Amulin, with its first two episodes premiering free on YouTube on 26 September. Set against the conflict between Ayothaya and Hongsawadi, the story follows the eldest son of the ruler of Song Khwae, who is sent to Hongsawadi as a prisoner of war and forms an unlikely childhood friendship with the son of Hongsawadi's viceroy. As the two kingdoms remain divided by war, their bond is tested when the young royals must eventually face one another as enemies.

The nearly two-minute trailer, released by Clover Book on 27 July, previews scenes from episodes two to eight. Episode one is produced by Animetix Production, while Mitta Studio will produce episode two onwards. Clover Book Studio serves as executive producer, with the project supported by the Culture Promotion Department under the Ministry of Culture and snack brand Koh-Kae. Singer Songkran Rangsant has been named as the lead vocalist for the animated series' soundtrack.

Amulin, whose real name is Chalisa Limpipolpaiboon, told Matichon that Clover Book acquired the rights to adapt her comic. The publisher initially intended to finance the animation independently to retain full control over the story but later sought support that would not require changes to its content. The series will be released weekly due to high animation production costs, with income from book and merchandise sales intended to help finance subsequent episodes. Amulin also revealed that the comic's rights have been acquired for a separate series adaptation.

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