Category: The Bangkok Post

The Civil Court has ordered Kasikornbank Plc to pay 1 million baht for failing to detect suspicious after-midnight transfers in the case of Thai-British actress Charlotte Austin, who lost 4 million baht to scammers in 2024.

The ruling was handed down on Wednesday in the suit filed against the bank by Miss Charlotte Co Ltd, which manages the Phuket-born actress’s assets and financial interests.

The fifth runner-up in Miss Grand Thailand 2022 was among the first Thai public figures to fall victim to scam gangs. Her case also encouraged other victims of similar scams to file police complaints.

Ms Charlotte, then 25, received a video call on Dec 7, 2024, from a man claiming to be an official from the Department of Special Investigation. He told her she was suspected of money laundering in a case involving scandal-hit Stark Corporation, which was in the headlines at the time.

The caller instructed her to transfer 4 million baht so that authorities could verify her innocence. Following the instructions, she made three transfers through the KBank mobile banking application, including two after midnight, while being forced to remain on a video call with the scammer.

The Criminal Court in May last year sentenced four defendants in the case to prison terms ranging from six to seven years.

The lawsuit, seeking 4 million baht in damages, alleged that the bank had breached its obligations under a deposit agreement.

The plaintiff argued that the transactions were clearly unusual and high-risk, but the bank failed to detect them or issue any warnings, resulting in financial losses.

Kasikornbank argued that its transaction monitoring and fraud prevention systems met industry standards and that the transfers were processed as ordinary transactions under its normal detection criteria.

Shared responsibility

After reviewing the evidence, the court divided its ruling into two parts.

It found that the first transfer of 2 million baht, made at 5pm, was a normal transaction and said the bank could not reasonably have known it was linked to a scam.

However, the court found that the second and third transfers, totalling 2 million baht, were abnormal because they were consecutive transfers made after midnight.

The court said the bank should have had more robust monitoring systems and safeguards to detect such suspicious activity.

However, it also found that the plaintiff had been negligent in transferring money to the scammers and ruled that responsibility for the loss should be shared equally between the plaintiff and the bank.

The ruling is consistent with an amended emergency decree introduced in April 2025 that mandates shared responsibility for financial fraud, based on each party’s level of negligence.

Kasikornbank was ordered to pay 1 million baht in compensation to Miss Charlotte Co Ltd, plus annual interest of 5% from Dec 8, 2024. The bank was also ordered to reimburse court fees proportional to the plaintiff’s successful claim and pay 20,000 baht in legal fees.

Nitithorn “Lawyer James” Kaewto, Ms Charlotte’s lawyer, said the ruling sets an important precedent for businesses in the entertainment industry, as well as the general public, seeking to hold financial institutions accountable for their handling of suspicious transactions, particularly those occurring late at night.

The government has tightened birth registration procedures nationwide as a police investigation widens into a scheme that enabled about 500 Chinese children to obtain Thai nationality with fraudulent documents.

Authorities are prioritising efforts to prevent corruption and exploitation of Thailand’s civil registration system, deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said on Saturday following a number of arrests in the “fake fathers” scandal.

The Ministry of Interior has ordered an urgent review of birth registration procedures at all 878 district offices nationwide. It said cases involving a foreign parent must now include an in-person appearance before registration officers to confirm parental identity.

The measure aims to prevent impersonation and the use of forged documents, while reducing opportunities for criminal networks to exploit Thai nationality to hold property, conduct business or launder money through Thai citizens, Ms Lalida said.

A number of arrests were made this week as police and the Department of Provincial Administration closed in on a network that included district officers and hospital staff, as well as Thai men paid to pose as fathers of Chinese women’s children.

The probe is part of a wider investigation into a network headed by Chen Yin Lai, a Chinese national arrested in April 2024 on suspicion of laundering more than 70 billion baht through Thailand.

Police found that Chen and his Chinese wife had three children with Thai nationality, raising questions about the registration process.

Investigators said the network recruited Thai men as “fake fathers” to acknowledge paternity, allowing Chinese children to obtain Thai nationality and related rights. (Story continues below)

Five hospitals implicated

Pol Gen Samran Nualma, a deputy national police chief, said that more than 500 foreign children may have been falsely registered as Thai nationals, with staff at five private hospitals in Bangkok allegedly involved in facilitating the process.

He said at least 62 people have been linked to the network.

Police so far have arrested 27 suspects – 12 women and 15 men – including suspected fake fathers, Chinese mothers and registration-related personnel. The suspects were detained at the Bang Yi Ruea police station in Thon Buri district of Bangkok before being taken to court.

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Saturday denied bail to all 27 suspects, citing the serious nature of the offences and concerns over national security.

The suspects face charges under several sections of the Criminal Code, as well as the Civil Registration Act and provisions of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption.

Of the 27 suspects, 26 submitted requests for temporary release, while only one did not seek bail. Police had opposed the release of the suspects.

Following the ruling, corrections officials took the male suspects to Bangkok Remand Prison and the female suspects to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.

Among those arrested were Sunee Satitmanotham, a birth registration officer at Samitivej Thonburi Hospital, and Siriporn Nidthim, a registrar at the Thon Buri district office. Both declined to comment while being fingerprinted on Friday.

Investigators are pursuing 26 additional suspects accused of acting as fake fathers. The inquiry will also examine possible involvement of other district office personnel and private hospital staff.

One suspect, taxi driver Ongart Chaikulab, admitted signing documents acknowledging two children but denied knowingly taking part in wrongdoing. He said he received 2,000 baht each time as compensation for time spent away from driving his taxi.

Another suspect, Viroj Phumchaya, admitted signing paternity documents for four children from two Chinese families. He said he understood the families wanted to raise the children in Thailand but claimed he was unaware of the wider consequences.

Nominee shareholder

Another “fake father” suspect is already facing charges of acting as a nominee shareholder in China Railway Number 10 (Thailand), the company that built the State Audit Office headquarters, which collapsed during the March 2025 earthquake, killing 95 people.

The suspects initially face charges of aiding and abetting state officials in the wrongful performance or omission of duties.

Police are awaiting DNA test results before deciding whether to seek further arrest warrants, including for Chen Yin Lai’s Chinese wife and a Thai man accused of falsely acknowledging paternity of her three children.

Investigators believe the results will provide key evidence as the case expands.

Wittoon Sirinukul, deputy director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, said fraudulent registrations could allow foreign children to gain the full rights and privileges of Thai citizens, including access to education, healthcare, welfare benefits and property ownership.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has blamed the US memory-chip manufacturer Micron for forcing the tech giant to aggressively increase product prices in late June, drawing a sharp counter-accusation from the supplier.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Cook said memory-chip production capacity had plummeted just as consumer demand surged. He alleged that memory manufacturers had seized the opportunity to increase RAM trading prices, leaving Apple to shoulder massive cost increases.

The chief executive’s remarks strongly imply that Apple views memory-chip manufacturers as the root cause of the current severe chip shortage and skyrocketing prices.

However, Micron chief business officer Sumit Sadana hit back in a separate interview with the Journal, recalling the market downturn of 2023. He noted that during that period, several major clients capitalised on the situation by aggressively driving down prices to historic lows for their own benefit.

Mr Sadana argued that this predatory pricing squeezed the profit margins of memory chipmakers, including Micron, leaving them without the capital required to build new factories or expand production capacity. Consequently, he said, manufacturers now lack the facilities needed to meet the massive spike in customer demand.

While Mr Sadana stopped short of naming Apple directly, international media outlets quickly inferred that the iPhone maker was a primary target of the criticism. Apple is one of Micron’s largest customers and is widely known for leveraging long-term contracts to squeeze suppliers.

Recent industry data reveals that memory and storage chip prices have quadrupled compared to the past three quarters. Prices are projected to surge by another 58% to 63% by the end of the third quarter of 2026.

Analysts at JPMorgan warned that smartphone prices could climb even higher in the future. They estimated that memory-chip production costs for the iPhone could jump by approximately 45% by 2027.

Meanwhile, data from the market research firm Gartner indicates that combined memory and storage chip prices are on track to soar by up to 130% by the end of 2026. This spike is expected to drive up PC prices by 17% and smartphone prices by more than 13%.

AIA Thailand has launched AIA Connect, a premium office development on Ratchadaphisek-Rama IX Road, marking the insurer’s fourth office property investment in Thailand as it seeks to capitalise on growing demand for high-quality workplaces designed for hybrid working.

Developed under the “Home-Inspired Workplace” concept, the project integrates workspace, employee well-being, technology and sustainability to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses.

Nikhil Advani, chief executive officer of AIA Thailand, said the development was designed to connect transport, business and urban lifestyles while supporting Thailand’s long-term economic growth.

The investment coincides with the company’s 88th anniversary in Thailand and reflects its confidence in the long-term prospects of Bangkok’s premium office market, he said.

Mark Konyn, group chief investment officer of AIA Group, said competition in the commercial property sector had shifted from expanding floor space to improving workplace quality, user experience and employee well-being.

Modern office buildings must offer greater value than conventional workplaces to meet changing tenant expectations and evolving work patterns, he said.

Eric Lu, chief investment officer of AIA Thailand, said the building features column-free floor plates of about 1,700-2,100 square metres per floor, with knock-out panels allowing future inter-floor connections as tenants expand.

The development also includes a five-storey retail podium, restaurants, fitness facilities, terraced gardens and a wellness walking track.

Located on Ratchadaphisek Road in the Rama IX business district, the building has direct access to the MRT Blue Line at Thailand Cultural Centre station. It is also expected to benefit from the future interchange with the MRT Orange Line, scheduled to open in 2028, improving connectivity between eastern and western Bangkok.

The Department of Local Administration (DLA) has suspended the submission of project proposals by local administrative organisations under the government’s 200-billion-baht energy transition loan programme.

The decision follows criticism from the opposition that some of the projects appeared unrelated to clean energy objectives.

In a circular dated July 10, acting director-general Boonprasong Nuansai instructed all provincial governors to cancel the proposal process pending a review.

He said the move was intended to ensure that all projects proposed under the scheme complied with the objectives and spirit of the emergency decree.

The suspension revoked an earlier directive that had required local authorities to submit proposals by July 17 for provincial screening before being forwarded to the Interior Ministry.

The decision came after People’s Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun questioned whether the programme could be used to insert projects for political or private gain under the guise of energy transition.

Ms Sirikanya said the opposition had obtained documents circulated to local authorities that resembled a catalogue of pre-selected projects rather than proposals initiated by local governments themselves.

Among the listed items were electric garbage trucks, solar-powered sports grounds, solar-powered oxygen generators and rooftop solar installations.

The level of detail raised concerns that vendors or contractors had already been quietly lined up, she said.

No approvals yet

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul rejected the allegations, saying no projects had yet been approved.

The government had been waiting for the outcome of an opposition legal challenge to the 400-billion-baht borrowing decree in the Constitutional Court, which ruled this week that it was lawful.

Mr Anutin said all proposals must first pass scrutiny by a screening committee chaired by the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Finance and other senior officials before being submitted to the cabinet.

“There are no approved projects yet,” he said, dismissing suggestions that procurement specifications had been predetermined for items such as electric refuse trucks.

Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit also defended the programme, saying the Interior Ministry had merely instructed the DLA to collect and screen proposals from local governments.

He said examples such as rooftop solar panels and electric ambulances were provided to help local authorities understand the types of projects that could support cleaner energy use in public services, not as a catalogue of mandatory purchases.

He said all procurement would be subject to the Budget Bureau’s standard pricing rules and strict screening criteria to ensure transparency.

INGLEWOOD, California – sub Mikel Merino snatched another late winner for Spain on Friday after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold onto the ball as they claimed a 2-1 win over their injury-hit opponents and set up a World Cup semi-final clash with France.

After the teams went in level at 1-1 following the first half, Spain eventually prevailed when Belgian back-up keeper Lammens, who came on in the second period for the injured Thibaut Courtois, spilled Pau Cubarsi’s low strike.

The ball bounced ?in front of Lammens, giving Merino just enough time ?to fire home as the sold-out crowd largely backing Spain erupted on a sweltering day at Los Angeles Stadium.

“There are no such things as coincidences,” said Merino, who also scored a late winner as a substitute in Spain’s 1-0 round-of-16 victory over Portugal. “If you go into a match well-prepared, things tend to happen again.”

The last time Spain reached the semi-finals the World Cup was in 2010, when they won the tournament.

“We are two matches away from winning the World Cup and that is what we are going after,” added Merino.

European champions Spain will face tournament favourites France in Dallas on Tuesday for a spot in the final.

“We’re going to work hard to try and beat France,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “They’ll be just as worried as we ?are.”

Spain aggressive

Spain were aggressive early on against Belgium and Fabian Ruiz gave them the lead on the half-hour mark, pouncing after Courtois made an excellent diving save to fire a shot between defender Timothy Castagne’s legs and into the net.

Ruiz’s goal vindicated De la Fuente’s surprise decision to start the Paris St Germain midfielder in place of Pedri, who came on for Ruiz early in the second half.

Belgium responded 11 minutes later through Charles De Ketelaere, who timed his run perfectly and headed Castagne’s cross past keeper Unai Simon, the first goal Spain have conceded in the tournament.

The equaliser breathed new life ?into Belgium and the teams battled to halftime in the oppressive heat.

Spain came out energised after the break, controlling possession and chipping away at the Belgium defence, especially through electric 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who was a threat throughout the match.

It felt inevitable that Spain, who had 17 shots to Belgium’s five, would eventually ?score again and they did through Merino, who netted two minutes after being introduced in the 86th.

The attacking midfielder is the first player in World Cup history to score the winner in two different knockout stage matches as a substitute.

A Belgium side led by veterans Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku searched ?for ?another equaliser and, despite some promising chances, they could not find a way through.

Belgium injuries

Belgium were at a disadvantage before the match began.

Their captain Youri Tielemans was taken out of the starting lineup shortly before kickoff after sustaining an injury in the warm-up, with Hans Vanaken replacing him.

Belgium ?were also without midfielder Amadou Onana, who tore his ACL in their round-of-16 win over the United States.

But the biggest loss would prove to be Courtois.

The 34-year-old Real Madrid keeper, widely considered one of the world’s best, made four terrific saves but said he felt muscle pain in his leg on long kicks in the second half.

Courtois was devastated and in tears as he left the field after Belgium coach Rudi Garcia decided to bring him ?off.

“I wanted to continue but, yeah, the coach wanted someone 100%, so okay, that’s his decision … and that’s not a problem,” Courtois said.

That decision ?would prove to be fateful and Courtois could only look on as Lammens failed to make the routine save that allowed Merino to perform his latest heroics.

“Senne, obviously, I gave him a big hug” Courtois said. “Not much more I can do at the moment. I know, for goalkeepers, this is a shit feeling, and he’s a great goalkeeper, and he will only get stronger from this.”

Among the 70,492 crowd at a sun-splashed Los Angeles Stadium were Courtney Love and Noel Gallagher, American actor Brad ?Pitt and Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

The quarter-final was the eighth ?and final World Cup match played at the $5 billion venue, known as SoFi Stadium outside of the tournament, which is home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is stepping up efforts to address water seepage inside the under-construction Purple Line extension tunnel and road subsidence on Prajadhipok Road, while expanding safety measures for nearby residents with round-the-clock monitoring.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, accompanied by civil engineering expert Thanes Weerasiri, visited the site in the Wong Wian Yai area of Khlong San district on Saturday to monitor efforts to stabilise the area following reports of water leakage inside the tunnel and settlement of the road surface.

The seepage was first reported on Wednesday night after heavy rain affected the tunnel under construction for the Southern Purple Line MRT project (Tao Poon-Rat Burana section) near the Wong Wian Yai station. City Hall evacuated people from nearby buildings and closed the road near the site.

Mr Chadchart, who began his second term as governor this week, ordered the removal of the pedestrian bridge across the construction site after subsidence was detected at its midpoint.

The move will also facilitate the installation of four grouting machines to inject cement-based materials into the ground to strengthen soil conditions.

Workers have begun drilling to a depth of 37 metres, below the tunnel base level of 31 metres, in an effort to reinforce underground soil, prevent further water ingress and stabilise the surrounding area.

Mr Thanes said monitoring equipment installed in cooperation with Kasetsart University showed no significant movement in surrounding buildings.

Engineers were using tiltmeters to detect structural leaning and inclinometers to measure horizontal and vertical ground movement. Data from the highly sensitive instruments is being transmitted via a wireless network to the BMA control centre, allowing officials to monitor conditions around the clock.

Despite rainfall overnight, groundwater levels remained stable and did not worsen the situation, said the engineering expert.

The tunnel incident differed from last year’s sinkhole incident at Vajira Hospital because there was no opening at the surface allowing water to flow downward. The seepage appeared to be originating from below ground, said Mr Thanes.

However, minor cracks have been observed on the road surface, prompting authorities to continue close monitoring and maintain heightened caution.

Mr Chadchart reported that the water seepage had affected 141 residents of two apartment buildings nearby, with some of them reported to have left the area. Fifty-two residents reported being temporarily evacuated, while 34 remained in place.

The governor said the BMA had set up a complaint centre in the area to assist residents and explain the close monitoring measures in effect in the area.

Prajadhipok Road remains closed from the King Taksin the Great Monument to the Yaek Baan Kaek intersection. Drivers are advised to use Issaraphap, Lat Ya and Somdet Chao Phraya roads instead while repairs take place, said Mr Chadchart.

The civil works for the Purple Line extension have been split into six different contracts, with the MRTA awarding them to five major Thai construction companies.

A joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and Nawarat Patanakarn Plc is responsible for the 3.1-kilometre underground section that passes beneath the Chao Phraya River.

The Senate approved 10 bills during the first ordinary session of 2026 and completed consideration of the amended Clean Air Bill, according to a legislative performance summary released yesterday.

Phisit Apivatanapong, a senator and spokesman for the Senate whip, said the upper chamber held 30 sittings between March 14 and July 11, spending 197 hours on legislative business during the session.

Among the key measures considered was the Clean Air Bill, whose review was completed on Wednesday before it was returned to the House of Representatives with Senate amendments.

During its final sitting, the Senate approved a key amendment removing a proposed deposit-refund system from the bill.

The majority committee argued the scheme was intended primarily for waste management and recycling rather than directly addressing air pollution. It warned that it could impose unnecessary costs on consumers and businesses and would be difficult to enforce.

However, committee adviser Natthapat Thawiwannabun and Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit opposed the move, arguing that many countries have successfully used deposit-refund systems to encourage recycling, reduce waste burning and tackle pollution at its source.

Despite their objections, the Senate voted 113-10, with three abstentions, to remove the provision before returning the bill to the House.

Mr Phisit said senators also held 15 pre-agenda discussion sessions under parliamentary rules, raising 233 public issues over nearly 13 hours.

During the session, the Senate received 20 bills from the House of Representatives. Ten were approved, while several others were amended and returned to the House for reconsideration.

One bill, the Bankruptcy Bill, has been referred to a joint House-Senate committee after the House rejected Senate amendments.

Two other bills remain under committee scrutiny in their second reading, while two proposed laws lapsed following the dissolution of the previous House of Representatives because the new cabinet did not seek their reinstatement.

On parliamentary oversight, Mr Phisit acknowledged continuing problems with ministers responding to Senate questions.

Of 94 written questions submitted by senators, 51 required ministers to respond in the chamber. Only 22 had been answered, eight remained pending, and 21 had lapsed.

Another 43 questions required written replies for publication in the Royal Gazette, but only six responses had been provided, leaving 36 outstanding. Ministers also answered 16 oral questions in person, while 28 lapsed. Mr Phisit said Senate committees completed studies on 51 issues and considered 17 motions from state agencies.

Customers depositing more than 5 million baht in cash will be required to disclose the source of the funds from the fourth quarter as part of tighter measures to curb the grey economy and illicit financial activities, according to Bank of Thailand governor Vitai Ratanakorn.

The central bank places high priority on tackling Thailand’s structural problems, particularly the informal economy, grey capital and corruption, Mr Vitai said during a meeting with economic reporters on Saturday.

Consequently, the BoT does not want financial institutions under its supervision to be used as channels for illegal activities, prompting it to tighten oversight.

Mr Vitai said officials are now renewing the scope of the central bank’s legal authority before finalising the deposit disclosure requirements.

The measures would also cover large cash exchange transactions, requiring customers seeking to exchange 1,000-baht banknotes for 100- or 500-baht notes to explain the purpose of the transaction and why the smaller denominations are needed.

Under a separate measure introduced earlier this year, cash withdrawals exceeding 5 million baht are subject to enhanced due diligence.

Commercial banks and state-owned financial institutions are required to verify customers’ reasons for using cash and assess whether transactions could instead be conducted through electronic transfers or cheques.

Legitimate business transactions remain permitted, Mr Vitai said.

Since the measures took effect in April and May, large cash withdrawals have fallen by 35%, Mr Vitai said, adding that enforcement would be standardised across all banks to further reduce such transactions.

Structural reforms

The central bank governor also called for structural reforms, making an observation about the failure of successive governments to address the country’s long-term economic weaknesses.

Thailand over the years has relied primarily on short-term projects, promotion and public relations while making little progress on long-term structural reforms, he said.

The Thai economy has proved more resilient than expected during the Middle East conflict, prompting the BoT to project GDP growth of a modest 2.3% this year instead of the 1.5% contraction feared under the worst-case scenario.

However, the more pressing challenge remains deep-rooted structural problems, which continue to erode long-term growth potential, he said.

“We have structural problems because resources are concentrated in the hands of large businesses, and we also face issues relating to the grey economy,” he said.

“What we have seen over the years are mainly short-term projects. There has been very little effort to solve long-term problems.”

The structural weaknesses are evident in persistently low productivity caused by years of inadequate investment in innovation and modern infrastructure; an ageing society that is steadily shrinking the country’s workforce; and an increasingly unequal K-shaped recovery, in which large corporations continue to recover and access financing while low-income households and small businesses remain constrained and struggle to obtain formal credit.

The Thai women’s volleyball team shocked world No.2 Brazil with a straight-sets victory in the Volleyball Nations League tournament in Osaka on Saturday afternoon.

The decisive 25-15, 25-16, 25-17 win was the first in nine years over Brazil for Thailand, currently ranked 17th in the world.

Brazil had entered the closing week of the VNL 2026 preliminary round with nine wins from their first 10 matches.

While Thailand remain in 14th place in the 18-team VNL 2026 standings, the three points from the victory give them 12 points overall, leaving them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Captained by world-class setter Pornpun Guedpard, Thailand dominated all three sets in their third match of the final preliminary-round week at Asue Arena, maintaining steady pressure to limit Brazil to 15 points in the first set.

The second and third sets also featured quick attacks and disciplined play that prevented Brazil from ever seizing the momentum.

Thatdao Nuekjang led all scorers with 15 points, followed by Pimpichaya Kokram with 12.

Thailand will face Turkey in their final preliminary-round match at 1.30pm Thailand time on Sunday. The match will be broadcast live on Monomax.