‘Veteran fraudster’ arrested for impersonating Thai govt official

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 6 Oct 2024 at 16: 31

Police seize a white uniform with fake royal decorations from the rented car of an alleged fraudster identified as Suwadee Nuannil, 47, at an apartment in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district on Saturday. (Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham)
Authorities seize a white dress with false king designs from the car Suwadee Nuannil, 47, allegedly robbed at an house in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang neighborhood on Saturday. ( Photo: Wassayos Ngamkham )

A person has been detained after allegedly phoning a government official, supposedly mingling with lawmakers at congress, and reportedly claiming to be former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s secretary.

Suwadee Nuannil, 47, was detained on Saturday at a rented house in Bangkok’s D Krabang region in response to a subpoena issued by the Dusit District Court on September 27. According to Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thumsuthee, she was also wearing an electric checking ring at the time.

A lawmaker had raised the issue of a suspected fraud artist wandering around the legislature building at every legislative session on August 20, prompting calls for an immediate investigation and a moratorium on Ms Suwadee from entering the building. &nbsp,

Ms. Suwadee allegedly showed up at the congress while wearing a bright dress and aristocratic designs, according to Pol Maj Gen Theeradej. She allegedly claimed she was now employed at the Office of the Prime Minister and photographed with some MPs and senators as they approached and took pictures with them. &nbsp,

Her sits included having a near relationship with former Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, a close aide to a few senior officials, and recently being on Gen Prayut’s working group. &nbsp, &nbsp,

According to investigators,” Ms. Suwadee has been prosecuted in 14 fraud cases since 2010,” including those involving bad checks and building and investment scams,” according to Pol Maj Gen Theeradej. &nbsp,

She began deceiving people into thinking she had ties to the government and had close ties to the prime minister in 2021. She]claimed she ] may help them get a job at the Office of the Prime Minister or as a president’s assistant”.

To avoid the policeman, Ms. Suwadee moved and rented a new house every time. A search of her rented car found the white uniform with fake royal decorations, two black jackets —one carrying an embroidered Thai word that translates as” Parliament” and the other as” Office of Prime Minister” — and a membership card of a political party. &nbsp,

The Songkhla local denied all allegations, claiming she just wanted to use the pictures she had taken with the politicians at parliament to apply for an MP place and that she only wanted the white dress from a colleague. &nbsp, &nbsp,