Former District Officer Exposed in Fake Birth Certificate Scam with Chinese Gang, Paid 30,000-50,000 Baht Per Case

On May 2, 2025, authorities in Nakhon Ratchasima province reported progress following the arrest of three suspects: a municipal employee from Phothikhlang Subdistrict Municipality (a senior registration officer), a former district officer from Huai Thalaeng District, and a former staff member of Huai Thalaeng District Office. They are accused of conspiring to file false birth reports and issue fake birth certificates to Chinese and Myanmar nationals, with investigators now identifying over 50 victims.

Initial findings reveal the modus operandi of the Chinese trafficking gang, which recruited the former Huai Thalaeng district officer—who had served in multiple district offices throughout Nakhon Ratchasima—as the central operator. The former officer had access to central government credentials allowing him to access the national population registration system nationwide. The Chinese gang would place orders for him to complete three steps: fake marriage registration, fraudulent birth certificate creation, and securing a house address for household registration, paying him 30,000-50,000 baht per case.

The former officer would then coordinate with registration officers at district offices and municipalities who were his former colleagues or acquaintances, paying them 10,000-30,000 baht each to process the fake birth reports. Both the senior registration officer from Phothikhlang Subdistrict Municipality and the former registration staff from Huai Thalaeng District Office who were arrested had previously worked with the former district officer.

Further investigation by police, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Interior Ministry's task force also uncovered similar fake birth certificate registrations at Nong Phailoem Subdistrict Municipality in Muang Nakhon Ratchasima District, totaling 18 cases.