Violence reports have captivated and shocked the nation  , over the past 12 weeks.
1. RTP riven by domestic issue
This year, the Royal Thai Police (RTP ) was embroiled in internal conflicts among its high-level officials, leading to administrative shake-ups.
Srettha Thavisin, the former prime minister, intervened by issuing a sudden order transferring the then-chief of the federal authorities to the Office of the primary secretary for 60 days.
During his presence, his lieutenant, Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, was appointed as acting federal police chief.
Due to their repeated charges of participation in high-profile problem situations, particularly those involving money laundering and online gaming, Pol Gen Torsak and his then-deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, were in fight.
Pol Gen Torsak served as the country’s police commander until his pension at the end of September after the investigation was concluded.
Pol Gen Surachate, nevertheless, faces serious legal issues, with the Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant against him on charges of money fraud.
He was let go from the officers power. Despite numerous attempts to obtain justice through the Supreme Administrative Court and several firms, all supported the decision.
Pol Gen Surachate’s career in law enforcement was ended as a result of the scandal, which made him unqualified for the position of federal police chief and made him unqualified for it in spite of having several years to go before his compulsory retirement in 2031.
In light of allegations of corruption and internal conflict, the RTP’s inner struggle and subsequent federal interventions highlighted the difficulties that the organization faced in upholding its dignity and common trust.
2. Bali’s runaway Paeng Nanod has been discovered.
After evading authorities for over seven months, fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as” Paeng Nanod”, was apprehended in Bali, Indonesia, in a joint operation between Thai and Indonesian authorities.
In June, Chaowalit” Paeng Nanod” Thongduang is escorted by police from Don Mueang aircraft to Bang Kwang Central Prison. ( Photo: Police photo )
Chaowalit, 37, a native of tambon Nanod in Phatthalung country’s Muang area, is a renowned criminal with a long history of over 10 key convictions, including crime, armed abuse and attempted homicide.
He was transported from Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison to Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital for medical care on October 20, 2013, for treatment.
He fled corrections personnel on Oct 22 into the Banthad rock range, which stretches across Phatthalung, Trang and Satun regions. Despite a massive chase, he much managed to evade record.
He made videotapes in which he claimed he had been unfairly treated and that his bail application had not been handled pretty.
His videos sparked a nationwide manhunt led by the Immigration Bureau ( IB ) and Provincial Police Region 9 under the lead of the province.
Researchers tracked his affiliates, some of whom travelled strangely often to Indonesia. One of them was a near female companion, whose testimony offered important clues.
A particular task force was established in partnership with Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong. The crew collaborated with Indonesian authorities to find Chaowalit, who was discovered lying in a rented space on Bali’s tourist island.
After serving seven decades on the run, Chaowalit was extradited to Thailand in early June. His previously extensive criminal history is now made even worse by the additional charges brought against him in connection with his escape.
3. The logo party loses glitter
The symbol Group, a direct sales company reportedly engaged in pyramid schemes and people fraud, was one of the biggest scandals of the year. 7, 875 individuals claimed to have lost full, 1.64 billion ringgit, in all, to the organization in total.
The image Group’s top professionals and high-profile panelists appear on stage. The company is at the center of one of the country’s biggest economic frauds. ( Photo: The icon group )
CEO Waratphon Waratvorakul founded the image Group in 2018, claiming to be involved in “online financial income.”
After six years of operation, it has 368, 257 people and is known as a fast-growing company. Its accumulated economic speech from the year 2019-2023 reported around 10.6 billion ringgit in profits. The company hired artists to indicate it, which is one of the reasons it has succeeded. They were portrayed as if they were business professionals.
Those artists included Yuranunt” Sam” Pamornmontri, Kan Kantathavorn, and Pechaya” Min” Wattanamontree.
A group of harmed parties alleged that The image Group stood them into enrolling in online e-commerce training and purchasing its goods filed a problem with the Central Investigation Bureau on October 7.
In exchange for receiving profits in a manner akin to a pyramid scheme, they were advised to sign up as people instead.
More victims have come forth as victims, with some reporting their lost loved ones who had been unable to save their money or owe The image Group a lot of money.
CIB officials arrested 18 defendants including the CEO, managers and three stars. They were accused of crimes relating to the Computer Act and common fraud.
Later, the Anti-Money Laundering Office ( Amlo ) worked on additional asset seizures from the suspects while the Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) took over the case and conducted an investigation into the business for money laundering.
The investigation resulted in additional charges against those executives, including direct sales and marketing violation and fraudulent borrowing ( pyramid scheme-linked offenses ).
The DSI impounded goods worth 747 million baht from the 18 defendants for potential settlement. Real property and luxury cars were among the seized goods.
The research also expanded to people who reportedly demanded a reward from Mr Waratphon, including lawmaker Samart Janechaijittawanich, former associate minister of justice and former participant of the Palang Pracharath Party, Ms Wilawan, the family of Mr Samart, and Kritanong Suwannawong, a former president of the online network promotion coordination centre.
All 20 suspects have been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison and Central Women’s Correctional Institution, except Mr Samart’s mother who was given bail.
Mr Waratphon, however, insists his company is a real business selling dietary supplements and denies all charges.
4. Lawyer Sittra veers off into the ground.
Sittra Biabungkerd, a well-known lawyer, became the talk of town after his and his wife’s arrest in November for their alleged embezzlement plot.
Well-known lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd and his wife, Pathitta Biabungkerd, detained by police on embezzlement charges. ( Photo: Police photo )
On Nov 7, Mr Sittra, 44, and his wife, Pathitta Biabungkerd, were arrested on a highway in Chachoengsao on fraud and money laundering charges.
The Sittra Law Firm, which had recently represented a number of well-known clients, was run by the well-known attorney.
One included Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, also known as Minnie, who was suspected of running online gambling websites and linked to a close aide of former deputy police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
Client Jatuporn Ubonlert, 58, reported the scandal to the police as having defrauded her of 71 million baht through an unofficial online lottery scheme.
Ms. Jatuporn, who resides in France with her French husband, claimed that she gave Mr. Sittra the money after he claimed he could secure her license to operate an online lottery website.
The money was used to develop software, but Mr. Sittra’s plan still failed after two years.
Additionally, Ms. Jatuporn voluntarily paid 300,000 baht for Mr. Sittra’s legal services.
She requested a refund and chose to cancel the contract, but Mr. Sittra claimed the money was a gift.
Police expanded the investigation and arrested three others: Pinthira Kariwan, sister of his wife, Nuwat Yongyut and his girlfriend Sarini Nuchanart.
In connection with a 39 million baht fraud in which Mr. Sittra claimed he could assist Ms. Jatuporn by paying for a well-known Chinese singer to perform in Thailand using cryptocurrency, they were accused of jointly laundering money and colluding to launder money.
But the money was later divided among the lawyer’s team.
In addition, Mr Sittra allegedly forged documents when he bought a Benz for Ms Jatuporn. He received 1.5 million baht from payments of 12.9 million baht on the car, according to the police.
She is also envious that he asked her to pay 9 million baht for a hotel design when the actual cost was only 3. 5 million, further aggravated her.
The assets of Mr. Sittra and his associates, totaling 71 million baht, were frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Committee.
Fraud and money laundering are the charges brought against Mr. Sittra and his wife.
The case is still pending, with the five suspects currently serving time in jail at the Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.
5.’ PAO dispute’ behind fatal shooting
Soonthorn Vilawan, the head of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organization ( PAO ), shot and killed Chaimet Sitsanitpong, a Prachin Buri provincial council member, at his home on December 11.
Police question suspects at the home of Soonthorn Vilawan, president of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation, about the fatal shooting of his adopted son, a provincial councillor, on Dec 11. ( Photo: Police photo )
Chaimet, 48, was the adopted son of Mr Soonthorn, 85, an influential figure in the province and father of former deputy education minister Kanokwan Vilawan.
Mr. Soonthorn has been named as one of the seven suspects in the case, along with two of Mr. Soonthorn’s associates, despite claiming that he was lying in his bedroom at the time the gun went off.
A political conflict is thought to be behind the fatal attack, as Chaimet supported his wife, Napaphat Anchasanichamon, to run for chairmanship of the Prachin Buri PAO under the Pheu Thai Party’s banner. Mr. Soonthorn also vowed to field a candidate for the Bhumjaithai Party at the same time.
After the shooting, some audio clips that feature heated exchanges between the two over issues like the unresolved local election matter were leaked.
Most recently, the national police chief requested that the Crime Suppression Division delegate the investigation to the local police. Police believe the murder was planned and that Mr. Soonthorn wanted his stepdaughter killed. The case demonstrates how vile politics can be on a local level.