Bangkok: Members of Parliament from the People's Party have announced significant progress in an ongoing investigation into a large-scale citizenship fraud scheme, which involves illicit Chinese investments and fraudulent paternity registrations. This scheme has led to damages exceeding 70 billion baht and has raised concerns about systemic corruption involving both government officials and private entities.
According to Thai News Agency, during a press conference, Mr. Piyarat Jongthep, Mr. Chalermpong Saengdee, and Mr. Romdon Panjor, MPs from the People's Party, revealed that financial trails linked to the suspects' families have led to a deeper investigation into irregularities in Thai citizenship grants. The investigation uncovered a fraudulent birth registration at a private hospital in the Rama 9 area, involving a Chinese mother and a Thai male listed as the father. This incident raised suspicions of a pre-arranged service to facilitate citizenship applications, with irregularities in the registration process and the absence of a formal birth certificate.
Police investigations have identified the Thai father as having a criminal background, suggesting his involvement in registering the child's paternity was likely part of a hired scheme to secure Thai citizenship. The father is currently evading authorities. In response, MPs have posed three critical questions to the government:
1. Establishment of an Investigation Committee: They urge the Minister of Interior and relevant provincial governors to clarify the existence of an investigation committee to examine the roles of implicated officials and agencies.
2. Suspension of Passport Issuance: The MPs question whether the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to halt passport issuance to children involved in such fraudulent cases, addressing a potential legal loophole.
3. Support Measures for Affected Children: Concerns were raised about the future status of children if their Thai citizenship is revoked, emphasizing the need for government clarity on whether these children would retain Chinese citizenship or face deportation.
Additionally, Mr. Chalermpong Saengdee highlighted irregularities in the issuance of Category 8 identification cards to foreigners in Phuket. An investigation revealed a Chinese national with suspicious citizenship registration details, suspected of acting as a nominee in businesses and facilitating the acquisition of Thai identity documents for a fee.
A request has been submitted to the Phuket Provincial Commerce Office to investigate potential fraudulent business practices by this individual. Furthermore, the Phuket Provincial Damrongtham Center has been asked to verify the accuracy of the individual's national identity card and civil registration status.
The MPs urge the Minister of Interior to expedite investigations to alleviate public suspicions about corruption, illegal card issuance, and job displacement affecting Thai citizens in Phuket.