Registrar Arrested for Selling Thai Citizenship via Fake Births
A registrar at Mae Sariang District Office in Mae Hong Son was arrested for accepting 2,000 baht per case to falsely register himself as the father of children born to foreign women, enabling them to obtain Thai citizenship illegally. He confessed to doing this for three children and faces charges including false statements to officials and violations of the Civil Registration Act. Authorities are expanding the investigation to find accomplices and review past registrations involving foreign parents.
On October 21, 2026, Mae Sariang District Chief Warasak Phanthong ordered Deputy Chief Thephatth Khamkhwanmuang, head of the registration and identification division, to lead a team to arrest Mr. A (alias), age 30, a registrar at the district office. The arrest followed an investigation revealing he had falsely registered himself as the father of children born to foreign women without Thai nationality — though he was not the biological father — so the children could improperly obtain Thai citizenship.
After his arrest, the suspect confessed he was not the real father but had been hired by families of foreign nationals without Thai citizenship for 2,000 baht each to pose as the father so the children could receive Thai nationality. A records check showed he had previously filed birth registrations as father for foreign children in three cases, receiving 2,000 baht per case.
Officials have initially charged him with three serious offenses: making a false statement to an official, causing an official to record false information in a government document, and violations under the Civil Registration Act B.E. 2534. He was handed over to Mae Sariang Police for further legal proceedings.
The District Chief also ordered an expanded investigation to identify accomplices and the people who hired him, and a thorough review of all past birth registrations involving a Thai father and foreign mother or a Thai mother and foreign father, to root out fraudulent citizenship claims and ensure the integrity of the civil registration system.
