Nonthaburi Health Officials Fine Ex-Official for Smoking in Government Office
Nonthaburi health officials fined a former provincial official 5,000 baht and Rattanathepisek Police Station 3,000 baht after photos showed smoking in the government office during an interrogation on August 11, violating Thailand's smoke-fr
Nonthaburi Provincial Health Office has fined both Chalerm Riawyaeng, a former Nonthaburi provincial official, and Rattanathepisek Police Station for smoking in a government building, with penalties of 5,000 baht and 3,000 baht respectively. On August 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., photos emerged showing Chalerm smoking in an office at Rattanathepisek Police Station while investigators were conducting an interrogation. This violated the Tobacco Product Control Act of 2017 and public health ministry regulations that designate all public places, workplaces, and government offices as smoke-free zones. Dr. Yuttana Homkaet, a health sciences specialist with Nonthaburi Provincial Health Office, explained that his department filed charges under the Tobacco Control Act, penalizing both the individual and the police station under Articles 40 and 42. The office reviewed the social media images, verified the allegation, and confirmed the violation. Officials stressed this was not selective enforcement, noting that any citizen can report smoking violations in public or government areas, and the same penalties apply to all offenders: 5,000 baht for individuals and 3,000 baht for government facilities, which represent the maximum fines allowed. The provincial health office has already collected the penalties and issued receipts to both parties.