Category: The Bangkok Post

Thailand’s cabinet has approved a draft Lemon Law aimed at strengthening consumer protection by making sellers more accountable for defective goods, allowing buyers to seek repairs, replacements or compensation more easily when products fail within a specified period.

The new legislation shifts the burden of proof from consumers to sellers. Under the proposed law, if a product becomes defective within the legal warranty period, it will be presumed that the defect existed at the time of delivery unless the seller can prove otherwise.

Known formally as the Draft Act on Liability for Defective Goods, the Lemon Law marks a major change in consumer rights. Previously, consumers were largely responsible for proving that a product was faulty. Under the new framework, sellers must take responsibility for inspecting and addressing defects covered by the law.

The cabinet approved the draft law proposed by the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) on June 16. The bill will now be submitted to parliament for further consideration, said Supamas Isarabhakdi, the minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, who oversees the OCPB.

The government said the law would bring Thailand’s consumer protection standards closer to international norms while helping consumers obtain fair remedies more quickly and avoid lengthy legal disputes and unnecessary expenses.

The law provides four forms of consumer remedy depending on the severity of the issue: repair, product replacement, price reduction and contract termination.

Under the proposed protection period, defects in general consumer goods discovered within six months of delivery, and defects in cars found within one year, will be presumed to have existed from the outset.

Repair timelines are also clearly defined. Sellers must complete repairs for general goods and motorcycles within 60 days, while repairs for cars must be completed within 90 days from the date the product is received for servicing.

If sellers fail to complete repairs within the required timeframe, consumers will immediately have the right to request a price reduction, terminate the contract or claim damages under the law, preventing delays in repair processes.

The law also covers severe defects, such as products suffering system failures that prevent normal operation. In such cases, consumers may request an immediate replacement within the designated period: seven days for general goods and 14 days for electrical appliances and electronic devices from the date of delivery.

For automobiles with safety-related defects that cannot be fixed, sellers will be required to replace the vehicle with a new one of the same model.

The draft bill has already been vetted by the Council of State and has undergone public hearings involving citizens, businesses, and relevant agencies in accordance with Section 77 of the Constitution.

The Lemon Law will apply to transactions between businesses and consumers, business-to-business deals, hire-purchase agreements, credit-financed sales, and exchange contracts. However, it will exclude secondhand goods, live animals, and peer-to-peer consumer sales.

A major crackdown on illegal foreign nominee businesses in three southern provinces has resulted in the seizure of assets worth more than 1 billion baht and the arrest of 48 Thai and foreign suspects.

More than 500 officers and officials from various agencies were deployed in coordinated raids across Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi on Saturday in an operation targeting foreign-owned businesses using Thai nominees to illegally hold land.

The task force included senior police officers, provincial governors, officials from the Department of Business Development and the Department of Lands, as well as personnel from several law-enforcement agencies.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma led the operation, the third phase of a foreign nominee crackdown on the Andaman coast, starting at 6am.

Authorities searched 89 land plots covering 49 rai, with a combined value of about 1.05 billion baht

Courts had issued 59 arrest warrants – 28 for Thai nationals and 31 for foreigners. Officers executed 55 warrants, arresting 48 suspects, including 27 Thais and 21 foreign nationals. Some suspects were subject to multiple warrants.

In Phuket, investigators identified two categories of illegal land ownership under the Land Code.

The first involved 10 companies suspected of acting as nominees for foreign investors. The firms held four land plots covering more than 2 rai, valued at 116 million baht.

Police arrested nine foreign nationals, including five Israelis, two French nationals, one Dutch national and one Russian.

The second category involved 39 companies that owned land despite having foreign shareholders holding more than half of the shares. Authorities investigated 52 plots covering 12 rai worth 115 million baht. Twenty-nine search warrants were executed to gather evidence and question those involved.

The two groups controlled 56 land plots covering about 15 rai, with a total estimated value of 231 million baht, said police.

In Phangnga, authorities uncovered nine nominee companies holding seven land plots covering 17 rai and worth about 269 million baht.

The court approved six arrest warrants and three search warrants. Police arrested one British national linked to the network.

A key target was the Sava Beach Hotel, where authorities found seven villas were being rented out on a daily basis even though it did not have a hotel licence.

Investigators also identified a company with a foreign-majority shareholding structure holding a 9-rai plot of land. Officials from the Takua Pa land office filed a complaint against the company related to land and property assets worth 54 million baht.

As well, investigators found several Thai nationals listed as shareholders in multiple companies, apparently acting as nominees for foreign investors.

Many had social security cards but no apparent financial capacity to invest in the businesses. Some were employees or relatives of company directors who allegedly helped facilitate nominee shareholding arrangements.

In Krabi, investigators identified nine nominee companies holding 17 land plots covering 6 rai, with an estimated value of 209 million baht.

The court approved 40 arrest warrants and 13 search warrants. Police executed 39 warrants and arrested 38 suspects – 27 Thai nationals and 11 foreigners. The foreign suspects comprised six Israelis, two Polish nationals, two Swiss nationals and one South African.

Authorities also investigated eight companies with foreign-majority shareholding structures that owned eight land plots covering 8 rai, valued about 290 million baht. Six search warrants were issued to collect evidence and question those involved.

One of the most significant cases involved Tropical House Co, a property development company linked to Polish investors. The company develops pool villas in prime locations, including Nuea Khlong, Nong Thale and Khao Thong, with units starting at 11.5 million baht.

Investigators found that the company had registered capital of only 4 million baht but controlled 16 plots covering more than six rai, with an estimated value of around 200 million baht.

Although company records showed 100% Thai ownership, police alleged that the business was actually controlled by a Polish couple who used Thai nominees as shareholders.

Authorities said the crackdown would not be limited to the three southern provinces and vowed to expand investigations nationwide.

They urged members of the public to report suspicious activities involving foreign investment groups or other illegal operations to local police stations or the Royal Thai Police hotline 1599, which operates around the clock.

Seventy-six people tested positive for drugs during a raid on a large entertainment venue in Nakhon Pathom in the early hours of Saturday.

Officials from the Department of Provincial Administration led the raid at The Airport nightclub in tambon Wang Taku in Muang district at half past midnight.

The raid followed complaints from residents in the area that the venue had been operating without a licence, allowing drug use and people under the legal drinking age of 20 in the premises.

The nightspot had changed names several times, with Hangar Pub and Wang Takuamong among its previous incarnations, authorities said.

Undercover agents from the department’s special task force were sent to investigate, and confirmed the illegal activities, leading to the raid.

Numerous customers were found dancing to music and drinking when officials entered the pub and turned on the lights. They tried to flee via the fire exit, with some tossing drugs to the floor.

Officials subsequently rounded up 377 people, who were taken to undergo urine tests. Seventy-six people – 51 men and 25 women – tested positive for drug use.

Of the tested individuals, 37 were aged under 20, with three testing positive for drug use.

The pub manager has been detained and was being questioned by investigators.

The owners and operators of the building face numerous charges including operating an entertainment venue without authorisation, selling alcoholic beverages beyond legally permitted hours, selling alcoholic beverages to persons under 20, encouraging children to behave inappropriately, organising promotions and advertising alcoholic beverages, operating a food establishment without authorisation, and modifying a building without authorisation.

The provincial governor has also been directed to close the venue for a period of five years, authorities said.

DKSH Thailand Ltd, a market expansion services provider, says preventive healthcare, longevity and healthy ageing are becoming prominent trends in Thailand this year.

Preventive healthcare is expected to play an increasingly important role in the country, with a growing focus on early detection, wellness and disease prevention, according to the DKSH Healthcare Business Unit.

As Thailand transitions to an aged society, the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, is anticipated to rise, said Nannaphat Limkome, general manager of healthcare, pharma commercialisation and business development at DKSH Thailand.

In recent years, she said the government has intensified its focus on preventive healthcare.

Longevity and healthy ageing are also gaining traction, driven by rising demand for solutions that extend health span and quality of life, said Ms Nannaphat.

Thailand’s healthcare system is also moving towards greater use of digital technologies, according to the company.

She said the country has shifted to a decentralised model of care with resource allocation moving away from major medical centres towards increased investment in smaller hospitals, secondary care facilities and pharmacies.

For minor illnesses, patients can consult with nearby pharmacies and receive medication directly. This approach helps reduce pressure on large hospitals and saves patients time.

Ms Nannaphat also identified a challenge facing Thailand’s healthcare system: spending has not kept pace with the rapidly increasing needs of the population.

DKSH Healthcare Business Unit reported significant growth potential in its role as an integrated end-to-end healthcare commercialisation platform.

Growth is expected from treatment-related products, supported by Thailand’s transition to an aged society and the increasing burden of NCDs, as well as from preventive and lifestyle-related products, fuelled by rising consumer interest in preventive healthcare, she said.

Thirteen stray dogs were rescued on Friday after becoming trapped in a deep water retention pond lined with slippery polyethylene sheeting, triggering public concerns about the risk to both animals and people.

The situation came to public attention after a Facebook user posted an appeal for help on Friday morning.

The user said the dogs had fallen into the nearly empty pit in the Khao Mai Kaew area of Bang Lamung district. They were unable to climb out because of the slippery sheeting lining the banks of 20-rai pit.

Although it was unclear how long the dogs had been stranded, some appeared exhausted when Bang Lamung district officials and rescue workers arrived at the scene.

Rescue teams had to use tranquilliser darts to sedate the frightened animals, which panicked during the operation. Some rescuers were reportedly bitten and required rabies vaccinations.

Rope ladders were used to bring the dogs to safety. A volunteer rescuer posted at 8pm on Friday that all 13 dogs had been rescued. They were taken to a shelter in the province for further treatment.

The incident has also raised public concerns about the risk of similar accidents, as both animals and people could become trapped in water storage pits that might be inadequately secured.

One man was killed and another person injured when the concrete balcony on an old building collapsed in Samphanthawong district of Bangkok on Saturday afternoon, emergency responders said.

The incident occurred at 4.52pm when a second-floor concrete balcony gave way and crashed onto Charoen Krung Road in Talat Noi, near Wat Traimit Witthayaram Worawihan and a Starbucks outlet on Rama IV Road.

The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre and the Rama 199 Radio Centre received reports of the collapse and coordinated a response involving firefighters and rescue workers from the Suan Mali fire and rescue station, and an emergency medical team from Klang Hospital.

Upon arrival, rescuers found one injured person, who received first aid at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital.

Authorities also reported that one man was trapped beneath the rubble and was later confirmed dead.

The Samphanthawong district office said in a Facebook post that rescue workers later succeeded in removing the body before transferring it to a hospital.

Rescue workers were continuing operations at the site while officials assessed the damage and investigated the cause of the collapse.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will on Friday reveal the names of individuals allegedly linked to a suspected illegal foreign-exchange investment and trading network, amid reports that politicians and entertainment figures could be implicated in the case.

Opposition People’s Party (PP) list-MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, whose name has surfaced amid speculation surrounding the case, has denied any involvement.

The anticipated announcement follows a major DSI operation carried out on Tuesday against a network suspected of soliciting investments and conducting foreign exchange (forex) trading without authorisation.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, investigators are continuing to question a large number of alleged victims and examine evidence collected from raids at 24 locations.

The searches were conducted primarily to gather evidence, and no arrest warrants or summonses have yet been issued, the sources said.

Investigators are analysing financial records and witness testimony to determine whether criminal offences were committed. Should sufficient evidence emerge, suspects could later be summoned to acknowledge charges.

Sources said preliminary findings suggest that one politician under scrutiny was not the owner of a digital wallet linked to the operation.

Another focus of the investigation concerns a well-known male actor, identified in local media reports only by the initial “F”. His residence was among the locations searched by authorities.

Amid speculation that Mr Pawoot could be among those named, the PP lawmaker urged the public to wait for official information.

Mr Pawoot has been one of the leading figures scrutinising the government’s TH-AI Passport project from the outset.

Speaking to local media, he said he had never been involved in forex activities and declined further comment until authorities released details.

Siho Uthakayotha, 63, was expected to be celebrating. After decades of uncertainty over land occupied by his community near Thap Lan National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima, a decision to remove 155,865 rai of overlapping land from the park boundary was viewed as a long-awaited breakthrough.

Yet Mr Siho, chairman of the Thap Lan 43 group, described himself as only “50% satisfied”.

While the move could bring greater certainty for thousands of farming families, he said several communities remain in unresolved disputes, leaving them to deal with what he described as a long-standing problem passed through successive administrations.

“I am pleased that progress has finally been made, but I cannot be fully happy while other villagers are still facing uncertainty,” he said.

The committee’s decision on June 15 marks one of the most significant attempts in more than 45 years to address overlapping claims between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) and local communities. For many residents, the issue has never centred on political debate or technical mapping, but on homes, farmland and livelihoods passed across generations.

Decades of uncertainty

The dispute traces back to overlapping government designations made over several decades.

Communities were already established in parts of the area before Thap Lan was declared a national park in 1981.

Some land had previously been allocated for agricultural reform, while other settlements were created under security-era policies supporting villagers during the communist insurgency period.

When park boundaries were later formalised, thousands of residents found themselves living inside a protected zone.

Many residents have lacked legal certainty over housing and farmland.

Some have faced criminal complaints and legal proceedings, while others have struggled to transfer land to descendants or access financial support.

According to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, the latest decision aims to address long-standing legal and administrative uncertainty affecting communities for nearly half a century.

“If we do not solve it now, people who have lived there for decades will continue facing legal action,” he said.

He stressed that the decision does not represent a blanket reduction of protected forest land. Instead, the disputed area has been divided into five groups based on historical documentation, cabinet resolutions and land-use records.

The first group covers about 55,000 rai previously designated for agricultural reform in 1978, prior to the national park’s establishment.

The second group comprises more than 8,000 rai in Ban Thai Samakkhi, which was allocated under a 1977 cabinet resolution linked to anti-communist operations.

The third covers more than 80,000 rai associated with former security settlements approved under a 1992 cabinet resolution.

The fourth group consists of land designated for public or administrative purposes and remains under review due to overlapping claims.

The fifth comprises approximately 6,000 rai of military training areas.

Mr Suchart said that these categories reflect legal foundations that pre-date, or operate independently from, the national park designation, forming the basis for their removal from the protected boundary.

Forests and land balance

Conservation groups raised concern after the announcement that more than 155,000 rai would be removed from Thap Lan National Park.

Environmentalists warned of potential impacts on protected ecosystems and broader conservation objectives.

In response, the government said the overall balance of conservation land is being maintained through a broader land reallocation process.

Mr Suchart said that while 155,865 rai would be removed from the park boundary, close to 90,000 rai of forest land elsewhere would be brought under protection through a land-swap arrangement. He said the intention is to maintain conservation outcomes while addressing long-standing disputes affecting an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 low-income families.

“People see headlines saying more than 100,000 rai of forest has been removed,” he said. “In reality, nearly 90,000 rai is being added back into protected status.”

The government maintains that no intact primary forest is being allocated for development.

Attapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said most of the land identified for removal consisted of areas previously designated by the state for settlement or agriculture before the national park was established.

He added that conservation expansion would continue where appropriate, while some areas may be managed as community forests under joint arrangements between residents and state agencies.

Legal cases remain

Attention has increasingly focused on what is classified as Group 4, which remains inside the national park boundary.

Covering more than 100,000 rai and involving around 5,200 claimants, it is the most legally complex category of disputed land, said the DNP chief.

About 450 active cases are currently before the courts, accounting for the majority of the roughly 550 land-related cases recorded across all five groups.

Many involve allegations that private investors and resort operators have occupied land intended for agricultural use, said Mr Attapol.

The DNP has therefore suspended administrative decisions on this group for six months while each claim is verified individually.

He said the department would rely on aerial imagery, historical records and data from the government’s One Map system in assessing each case. The aim is to distinguish between long-standing residents and unlawful occupation of state land.

“We are not legitimising land use so that resort operators can retain possession,” Mr Suchart said separately. “Where encroachment is proven, legal action will follow.”

He added that commercial developments found to be located on state land would be subject to enforcement procedures.

The One Map approach

An academic in Nakhon Ratchasima has highlighted the One Map system as a key tool in addressing long-standing boundary disputes in the Thap Lan area.

Thawisan Lonanurak referred to the cabinet resolution of June 14, 2023, which introduced a 1:4,000 integrated land mapping framework known as One Map. The system combines datasets from the Royal Forest Department, the DNP and Alro into a single reference for disputed areas covering about 265,285 rai.

He said the approach replaces fragmented mapping systems that have long contributed to overlapping claims, enabling clearer identification of land status, including agricultural zones, conservation areas and state land boundaries.

“One Map helps clarify overlapping land boundaries across agencies,” he said.

He added that the unified system could reduce long-standing uncertainty by standardising spatial data used by different state bodies, while supporting more consistent land-use decisions and future planning. He noted that the framework may also help reduce disputes between affected communities, the DNP and Alro as long-standing classifications are reassessed under a single mapping standard.

Nearly half a century after the conflict began, the challenge extends beyond redrawing lines on a map.

It remains a question of balancing conservation, legal certainty and long-standing community livelihoods.

A 16-year-old boy suspected of murdering a 17-year-old girl and concealing her body in a trash bin in Klaeng district of Rayong has been arrested in this eastern province. The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime, claiming he acted out of jealousy, said police.

The arrest followed the discovery of the body of a red-haired young woman, aged about 17 years old, stuffed inside a rubbish bin at Village Moo 8 in tambon Krasae Bon of Klaeng district on Thursday morning.

Earlier, officers believed the dead woman might be aged about 20 years old. She had long red hair with extensive tattoos covering her back. Authorities estimated that she had been dead at least four to five days before the body was discovered.

Initial examinations revealed the tattoos on her back and right chest, which proved crucial in confirming her identity.

Pol Maj Gen Chokchai Ngamwong, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 2, said on Friday that following investigative briefings that forensic findings indicated the victim had suffered stab wounds to the abdomen.

Investigators believed she was killed elsewhere before being dumped at the location in an attempt to conceal the crime.

The victim’s parents identified the body and confirmed it was their daughter, who had been missing for about a week. They said they had been searching for her before learning that the body found in Rayong matched her description.

Police subsequently tracked down and arrested the victim’s 16-year-old boyfriend.

During questioning, the suspect confessed to the killing, saying he became jealous after suspecting his partner of contacting another man. The pair reportedly argued violently at their home before he stabbed her three times with a durian-cutting knife he used for work, and she died at the scene.

After the attack, the suspect placed the body in a black bag, covered it with clothing to conceal it, and transported it on a sidecar motorcycle to dump in a roadside public bin. He also disposed of some of the victim’s clothing and personal items in a basket outside the house, apparently to destroy evidence and mislead the inquiry.

Police have detained the suspect, who was a juvenile, for detailed questioning in the presence of a multidisciplinary team.

Marketing Oops! Summit 2026 opened to a packed house and a flurry of social media activity as AssetWise launched the event under the theme “Intelligence in Action”, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

The summit cemented its status as one of the year’s leading marketing, business and technology happenings, elevating itself this year from a conventional seminar into a full-scale experience platform designed to help marketers and business leaders turn knowledge, insight, technology and AI into real-world action.

The event brought together more than 70 leading speakers from Thailand and abroad across four stages and theatres, with over 45 sessions, drawing more than 2,422 attendees and coverage from 58 of Thailand’s leading media outlets tracking the latest direction in marketing, business, technology and AI.

Topics covered included consumer insights, agentic AI, physical AI and humanoids, creative trends, AI commerce, martech, and frameworks and strategies that organisations can put into practice immediately. The event also featured workshops, an exhibition zone, an AI Live Playground and the MOS Black Night.

This year’s summit welcomed AssetWise, a leading Thai property developer, as title sponsor for a second consecutive year, reflecting a long-term partnership aimed at establishing the event as a key platform connecting marketers, businesses, technology and real-world experience to deliver tangible results.

Key highlights of MOS 2026

Two main stages – The Intelligence Stage and The Action Stage – bringing together major visions, trends, real-world case studies and playbooks for modern marketers.

Two experience theatres – the AI Growth Engine Theatre and the AI Commerce and Consumer Theatre – designed to showcase real tools, live demonstrations and frameworks attendees could take away and apply.

Canva took to the Marketing Oops! Summit stage for the first time in Thailand, sharing insight on Gen Z and AI and demonstrating real-time AI-powered campaign creation.

A live debate titled “AI vs Human”, inspired by the programme Thok Mai Thiang, explored whether AI represents an opportunity or the end of human skill in the workplace.

Physical AI and humanoid of the future featured as a key trend, examining how AI is moving from the screen into the physical world.

The AI Live Playground offered a space to trial AI in real business contexts, spanning AI live commerce, AI content creation and AI-driven customer experience.

MOS Black Night closed the event with a night of networking, featuring a live performance by Krungthep Ratri and the announcement of the MOS 2026 Awards, voted for by attendees themselves.

Another key highlight was the inaugural MOS 2026 Awards, decided entirely by attendee vote across categories including Best Speaker, Best Session, Best Booth Design and Best Booth Experience.

Beyond the main stages and experience zones, this year’s event also featured workshops for modern marketers, an exhibition zone showcasing the year’s leading marketing solutions, and exclusive tools and access for all ticket holders, including a free three-month Canva Pro subscription and three months of on-demand access to session replays online.

The turnout of more than 2,422 attendees, alongside coverage from 58 of Thailand’s leading media outlets, underscored that Marketing Oops! Summit has become more than a seminar for marketers – it is now a platform watched closely by the business, marketing, media, technology and creative industries as they chart a new direction for competition in the age of AI.