The Central Investigation Bureau and the Revenue Department have dismantled a "ghost bill" network involved in selling fraudulent tax invoices, causing damage to the value-added tax system worth 360 million baht. Officers raided 10 locations across five provinces and arrested three suspects.

On August 17, 2569, at the Central Investigation Bureau headquarters, senior police and revenue officials announced the "Anti Ghost Bill" operation. According to Deputy Superintendent Krisna Makrutdin of the CIB's Division 2, the Revenue Department had received intelligence that a group of individuals and companies were selling tax invoices without any actual goods transactions. The operation identified a sales representative using the name "O Ratthasak" who recruited customers through an exclusive closed network and refused contact with outsiders.

Undercover officers successfully infiltrated the network and conducted multiple undercover purchases of invoices issued in the name of a company managed by director Pandecha. The scheme involved issuing false invoices for goods valued at 300-400 million baht annually, with payments transferred to accounts under Konpot's name. The network allegedly used Thailand Post channels and false names for delivery without actually providing goods. Additional invoices were distributed to other customers with profit margins transferred to Pandecha.

The company had a registered capital of 400 million baht and issued invoices to create credibility. The network caused tax damages of at least 360 million baht and undermined the nation's economic system.

On August 11, 2569, officers arrested three suspects: Ms. Ratthasak, 61, arrested at a condominium on Rama III Road in Bangkok; Mr. Konpot, 50, arrested at his residence in Nakhon Ratchasima; and Mr. Pandecha, 33, arrested at his residence in Nonthaburi.

Raids at 10 locations across five provinces—four in Bangkok, three in Nonthaburi, one each in Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Prakan, and Chaiyaphum—seized approximately 200 items including 105 tax invoice documents, 12 files of purchase-sale tax reports, 31 files of postal delivery documents, 17 files of employment contracts and transfer documents, and 18 bank account books.

On August 17, the atmosphere at Wat Pa Adulya Ram in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province, was noticeably quieter than in recent days, though devotees continued to visit the temple to make merit offerings and encourage Phra Kru Adulya Sarnit, the temple's abbot. This followed a visit from Professor Thong Chantharangsun, rector of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and chairman of the National Buddhist Protection Committee, along with officials from the Religious Affairs Office and related agencies, who consulted with the abbot about the temple's land dispute and efforts to transfer a 21-rai property title into the temple's name.

The abbot expressed relief and a brighter demeanor, saying the temple was pleased with the approach taken by the committee, which allowed him to remain at the temple rather than meeting the media outside. He noted that while the previous day's discussions covered legal matters, the temple's main concern was whether the dispute could finally be resolved. The temple has been the defendant throughout the legal process, never filing a counter-lawsuit, and despite court rulings and title transfers in the temple's favor, the situation had never fully concluded.

Lay disciple Lai Khunthong remarked that the temple's atmosphere had improved since the previous day's visit by many devotees and members of the public. He noted that police continue to patrol the grounds approximately every hour, providing reassurance to visitors and relatives. All devotees expressed happiness and optimism that the situation would be resolved favorably, with confidence that relevant authorities would acknowledge the temple's case once the matter is fully concluded.

On August 17, Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasak Chaovasanakul disclosed progress in the investigation into fraud in local government personnel recruitment examinations. After investigators found involvement by state officials, they issued summonses for those to acknowledge the charges, including Rueangdet Sirikij, director of the Education and Psychology Testing Center at Srinakharinwirot University, and Theerut Suphavibulyapol, former director-general of the Department of Local Administration, as well as others involved in altering test scores.

Natthasak said that last week, investigators compiled case documents and forwarded them to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for legal proceedings. The Anti-Corruption Commission has now appointed Anti-Corruption Division officers to serve on a special investigation panel and returned certain documents to police to pursue further inquiries into multiple issues. The investigation is proceeding rigorously. Regarding brokers and other connected individuals, police confirmed they will accelerate work on the evidence supplied by the Anti-Corruption Commission and compile their findings to submit for the commission's consideration. They requested time for teams and investigators to do further work, with significant developments expected between the end of this month and early next month.

As for candidates who passed the exam and were already appointed as civil servants, Natthasak said several groups are still under review pending official information from the Anti-Corruption Commission before taking further steps. Regarding whether the evidence will point to influential figures behind the scheme beyond state officials, he asked that the matter await consideration by the Anti-Corruption Commission's larger committee. However, he confirmed that police and the commission will continue to pursue the case without pause and will examine all those involved to prosecute according to facts and evidence thoroughly.

On August 17, criticism erupted online and in the local community after a woman died following social media posts made from a hospital emergency room showing unusual marks on her body. The woman posted at noon that she had been waiting since 12 p.m. for examination at a hospital in Khon Kaen province, using strong language to express frustration about the delay. The post received approximately 4,200 reactions, 2,100 comments, and 1,900 shares at the time of a screenshot. Another post included photos showing her lying in a hospital bed appearing pale and exhausted, with dark and swollen lips, along with images of reddish and pink marks and bruises scattered across her palms, fingers, thighs, and lower torso. The quality and angle of the photos were insufficient to confirm whether the marks were raised or to identify clear blisters, open wounds, or pustules. A Facebook user identifying as the deceased woman's son commented expressing thanks and revealing that his mother should have been discharged that day or the next. However, around 4 a.m., staff called to report that his mother had lost consciousness in the bathroom while using the facilities, struck her head on the floor, and was found to have bleeding in her brain. The son questioned why family members did not accompany his mother to the bathroom, why staff did not notice her getting out of bed, and why she was left alone. He noted that visiting hours ended between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and questioned whether nursing staff were responsible for patient care after that time. The son stated that he, his father, and relatives were in shock and unable to ask detailed questions at the time, uncertain about the next steps.

A woman admitted to the emergency room of a hospital in Khon Kaen province around noon with allergies and a rash faced a long treatment queue and posted on Facebook saying, "I've been here since noon—if you're not going to examine me, just let me go home and die." Another page shared her post with a mocking comment: "You came at noon, what do you expect?" Medical professionals from multiple facilities then commented, with some using harsh and derisive language that amounted to telling the patient to go away and die. This sparked widespread online criticism questioning the appropriateness of medical staff's language toward patients.

The woman's son later announced her death, explaining that she was expected to be discharged that day or the next, but around 4 a.m. he received a call saying his mother had lost consciousness in a hospital bathroom and struck her head, causing severe brain bleeding. The son raised questions about the incident: why his mother entered the bathroom alone after visiting hours ended, why it took so long to notify the family after she lost consciousness, and why doctors initially planned surgery but ultimately did not proceed. Hospital staff explained that intervention came too late due to extensive bleeding in the brain.

After news of her death spread, online criticism intensified against the medical staff who had commented on the original post. Several nurses' Facebook profiles were locked or comments deleted. One nurse who commented clarified that she did not intend to insult the patient but responded to accusations that the hospital prioritized wealthy patients. She said she acted out of anger at comments questioning emergency triage procedures, emphasized that all patients receive equal care, acknowledged that commenting on the deceased's post was inappropriate, and apologized to the family and others affected, vowing not to engage in public comments or share others' posts again.