Bangkok: Three members of the "Father Thip" gang have been remanded in custody as investigations continue into a fraudulent birth registration case involving foreign children. Among the accused, one has confessed, while another denies the charges against him.
According to Thai News Agency, police have remanded four suspects in the "Thai Father" fraud case to the Criminal Court. The suspects are accused of colluding to fraudulently register births for foreign children. One of the "Thai Fathers" denies the charges, claiming a relationship with a Chinese woman, stating he knew the Chinese family through relatives and acted as a "Thai Father" for two families, although one family has already left Thailand.
Investigators from Huai Khwang Police Station brought the suspects - two Thai men, Mr. Mongkol and Mr. Worames, who are fathers of Thai-Thip, and two Chinese parents, Ms. Xi and Mr. Hu - to the Criminal Court to request a remand order. Investigators opposed bail in their request.
During the escort, reporters attempted to question one of the suspects, the Thai father, about his connection with the Chinese national, his paternity of the Chinese child, and any payment received for registering as the father. However, he did not respond to any questions. The two Chinese suspects also remained silent, keeping their heads down throughout the escort into the vehicle.
According to the investigative team, both Chinese suspects confessed, as did Mr. Mongkol Phothaitip. However, Mr. Worames continues to deny the charges, claiming he had a relationship with the Chinese woman and is the child's father. Investigation and scientific evidence, specifically DNA test results, confirm that Mr. Worames is not the father of the Chinese child, as the DNA does not match.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Worames was introduced as the child's father by a relative married to the Chinese family. This relative contacted Mr. Worames to register the child as a Thai father. Further information showed that Mr. Worames registered the paternity of two Chinese families. The first family, Ms. Xi and Mr. Hu, the Chinese parents arrested, is one example, while the other family has since left the country. Additionally, Mr. Worames has a criminal record involving several drug-related offenses.
The births were registered at a hospital in the Rama 9 area and later at the Huai Khwang District Office for Ms. C and Mr. Hu, their Chinese parents. Further investigation is needed to determine the involvement of hospital and district office staff.