DOPA N.I.C.E. has expanded its investigation into a civil registration fraud network involving Thai men falsely acknowledging foreign nationals' children as their own to enable the children to obtain Thai nationality unlawfully. Investigators discovered false birth registrations involving several private hospitals, with government officials allegedly implicated.
In Phase 1, investigators identified three children and arrested six people involved. Phase 2 uncovered another 22 children and led to 36 arrests.
In Phase 3, authorities identified 24 children whose nationality status requires further investigation and legal action. The cases were linked to eight hospitals. Officials collected DNA samples from all 24 children and compared them with those of the Thai men listed as their fathers on the birth certificates, their mothers, and the individuals believed to be their biological fathers. The results showed that none of the Thai men listed as fathers was biologically related to the children.
Investigators subsequently sought 46 arrest warrants for those involved, including government officials, hospital staff, foreign mothers, Thai men who falsely claimed paternity, the children's actual foreign fathers, and others involved in unlawfully exploiting the civil registration system.
Case 1: A 27-year-old man
One significant case involved Thawisak (surname withheld), 27. His birth certificate listed Wanchai (surname withheld) as his father and Wunlee, a Chinese national, as his mother. However, DNA testing revealed that his biological father was Mr. Chen.
The fraudulent registration enabled Thawisak to obtain Thai nationality. He has since graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from a university and currently works for an electrical cable company in Samut Prakan, earning approximately 30,000 baht per month.
Authorities arrested him at a residence in Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian district, where Mr. Chen and Wunlee were found living together as a family.
Wanchai told investigators that 27 years ago, someone had approached him and offered him 5,000 baht to register a marriage with Wunlee for business purposes.
Case 2: Twin brothers, aged 23
The birth certificates of Sutthiphat and Sutthinai, 23-year-old twins, listed Komon (surname withheld) as their father and Hansaman (surname withheld) as their mother. However, DNA testing confirmed that Komon was not their biological father.
Investigators found that Sutthiphat was a fifth-year medical student at one of the country's leading universities. He was arrested while undertaking clinical training at a hospital in Si Racha district, Chonburi.
His twin brother, Sutthinai, graduated from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and currently works as a programmer, earning approximately 50,000 baht per month. He was arrested at a condominium in the Krung Thon Buri area.
Komon is currently serving a prison sentence for a drug-related offence and is scheduled for release on August 27, 2037.
Hansaman, formerly known as Su Jian, was arrested for violating the Thai Identity Card Act in connection with certifying applications for identity cards for both sons. Investigators also found information suggesting that she may have obtained Thai nationality through marriage to a Thai man before divorcing him after acquiring citizenship. This matter is also under investigation to determine whether any laws were violated.
Case 3: Two boys, aged seven and three
The final case involved Athit, seven, and Huiyou, three. Both boys' mother is identified as Miss Yanfang (surname withheld), but their birth certificates list different fathers. Athit's certificate names Somkiat, while Huiyou's names Yingbao.
DNA testing confirmed that Mr. Zhang was Athit's biological father.
Somkiat, who works as a motorcycle taxi driver, confessed to receiving 5,000 baht to register as the child's father.
Yingbao owns a machinery manufacturing business and nine other companies, bringing his total to 10 businesses.
Authorities also arrested Mr. Zhang while he was with both children at a residence in Samut Prakan. The property is registered as the address of one of the companies, in which Miss Yanfang is a shareholder. Investigators are continuing to examine whether the company operates as a nominee business.
Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, known as “Big Nop,” added that the nationality and civil registration status of all 24 children would be reviewed and corrected in accordance with the law. If any children are found to have obtained Thai nationality unlawfully, the relevant documents and status will be revoked through the prescribed legal procedures. Government agencies will also take into account the rights and best interests of the children.
The Royal Thai Police stressed that the investigation would not focus solely on the Thai men who falsely claimed paternity. Authorities would also pursue recruiters, brokers, individuals who certified the registrations, government officials, and the actual beneficiaries to prevent the civil registration system from being exploited to assume identities unlawfully and circumvent the law.
“Thai Proxy Fathers”: An Emerging National Security Threat
The use of “Thai proxy fathers” is not merely an ordinary identity fraud offence but is being described as a new form of national security threat that is alarmingly penetrating the core of Thailand's civil registration system.
How the scheme began
The network allegedly involved Chinese and local brokers who recruited foreign investors, primarily Chinese nationals, who came to Thailand to give birth but wanted their children to obtain Thai nationality.
The brokers sought out financially disadvantaged Thai men, such as motorcycle taxi drivers and people experiencing financial difficulties, offering them between 5,000 and 20,000 baht in exchange for signing birth certificates and falsely acknowledging the children as their biological offspring despite having no biological relationship with them.
Retrospective investigations uncovered numerous children suspected of having been registered using fraudulent birth certificates, with links to more than eight public and private hospitals.
Alleged falsification of birth documents
Employees or officials allegedly issued birth certificates (Form Tor Ror 1/1) without a factual basis. In some cases, the identity of the child's father was not thoroughly verified. In others, officials may have knowingly colluded with brokers to submit false information about the father.
DNA testing of the latest group of 24 children clearly confirmed that the DNA did not match the Thai men listed as their fathers on the birth certificates but instead matched their actual Chinese fathers, who had allegedly paid to have Thai men falsely registered as the children's fathers.
Breaking the national security threat: Operation targeting 46 suspects
The operation marked a major crackdown on the network. Police and administrative authorities used information from DOPA N.I.C.E., together with forensic evidence, to seek 46 arrest warrants against members of the network, including:
- Proxy fathers: Thai men paid to falsely claim paternity.
- Foreign mothers and Chinese financiers.
- Brokers and programmers who arranged the registrations and established the system.
- Government officials and hospital employees allegedly involved in issuing the documents.
Pol Gen Samran Nualma, known as “Big Ran,” and Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, known as “Big Nop,” both affirmed that the investigation would proceed without exceptions.
If private hospitals or government officials are found to have been involved, they will face criminal proceedings. Authorities will also coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health to consider revoking hospital operating licences and pursue the revocation of Thai nationality obtained unlawfully by the children, as well as the deportation of foreign offenders.
