(Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)Six officials, including two deputy district chiefs, have been arrested in Chiang Mai for allegedly falsifying permanent residency documents to grant Thai nationality to foreigners, mostly Chinese. The suspects were identified as Theerawat Suksri and Wiset Phongnok, both deputy district chiefs in Chiang Mai; and four women — Suwanan Worathongchai, Natenapha Khuenphet, Rungarun Sawatsawai and Pornphatchara Thanakan — who worked as municipal officials in Chiang Dao district of the northern province. The charges include performing or neglecting official duties unlawfully, certifying false official documents, and producing, using or supporting the use of falsified population registration documents. Subsequent inquiries uncovered further irregularities involving applications for birth certificates filed with the registration office of tambon Thung Khao Phuang in Chiang Dao district. The arresting team said the investigation would be expanded to identify other members of the network and to review additional civil registration documents that may have been fraudulently issued.
