Chiang dao: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) launched operation "Revealing the Dragon's Shadow," arresting a former district official in Chiang Dao for corruption involving the fraudulent issuance of pink identification cards to "Mingchen Shan," a Chinese transnational criminal, and for allegedly being linked to an arms cache and C4 explosives.
According to Thai News Agency, following the arrest of Chinese national Mingchen Shan in Chonburi province on May 9th, along with weapons and C-4 explosives, an investigation into his pink identification card was expanded. Today, a joint operation involving five agencies - the Ministry of Interior, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Anti-Corruption Division, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) - launched "Operation Unveiling the Dragon's Shadow," arresting high-ranking officials behind Mingchen's arrest. The officials discovered that Mingchen had never even visited Chiang Dao district, yet his name appeared on a household registration in October 2022, allowing him to falsely claim ethnic minority status and live and conduct business in Thailand as a VIP.
The Anti-Corruption Criminal Court, Region 5, has issued arrest warrants for the Deputy District Chief of Hod (formerly the Deputy District Chief of Chiang Dao) and an employee of Chiang Dao District who prepared and approved all the false documents. This former deputy district chief has a history of corruption, having used forged identity cards for a Chinese gang involved in a kidnapping, ransom, and finger-cutting case in late 2022. Furthermore, evidence has been found that he illegally issued dozens of "white" identity cards (with the number 0) to other individuals.
The arresting team has charged the suspects with offenses under Section 157 of the Penal Code (neglecting/improperly performing duties), the Civil Registration Act (fraudulently adding names to household registration), and the Computer Crime Act, which carry a maximum prison sentence of 5 years. The Department of Provincial Administration has ordered the revocation of all fraudulent entries and is preparing to expand the investigation to crack down on all those involved, including the homeowners, sub-district heads, and village heads who signed the certifications.