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The Central Bureau of Investigation of Thailand (CIB) continues to arrest "mules", as the country calls persons who open bank accounts in their names in the interests of fraudsters. On Friday, September 27, the CIB press service reported five arrests in Phuket, Chonburi and Bangkok in the case of "a network of groups in China and Malaysia engaged in investment fraud".
The CIB did not disclose details of the case, but four of the five warrants were issued in 2024 and one in 2023. The oldest of them is a little more than a year old, and the most recent was received less than two months ago. All those arrested are Thai citizens aged 23-30 years.
"In the first interrogations, all the suspects confessed that they had opened bank accounts at the request of others for a financial reward," the CIB said.
The photographs show that the interrogations were carried out by the CIB Economic Crime Office.
The investigative agency reiterated that opening a Thai bank account for another person is a crime, regardless of whether the "mule" knew about the criminal plans of that person or not.
In this particular case, as follows from the CIB report, those arrested may be charged with complicity in fraud. However, even without taking into account criminal articles, the "mules" face up to 3 years in prison under the current one from 2023.
The decree on combating cybercrime: https://www.mdes.go.th/law/detail/6664
The new decree prescribes punishment for opening bank accounts and electronic wallets, as well as issuing SIM cards in the interests of third parties for use for illegal purposes. The very opening of an account or the purchase of a SIM card for a third party is punishable.
* Registration of a SIM card, e-wallet, bank account in the interests of third parties for their illegal activities - up to 3 years in prison and/or up to 300 thousand baht fine.
* Involvement of other persons in the registration of SIM cards, electronic wallets, bank accounts in the interests of third parties for illegal activities - from 2 to 5 years in prison and/or from 200 to 500 thousand baht fine.
The Decree on Combating Cybercrime, as well as the Law on Computer Crimes, supplement the Criminal Code in terms of punishment for fraud on the Internet. In the case of "mules", all three are applicable at the same time.
The CIB did not disclose details of the case, but four of the five warrants were issued in 2024 and one in 2023. The oldest of them is a little more than a year old, and the most recent was received less than two months ago. All those arrested are Thai citizens aged 23-30 years.
"In the first interrogations, all the suspects confessed that they had opened bank accounts at the request of others for a financial reward," the CIB said.
The photographs show that the interrogations were carried out by the CIB Economic Crime Office.
The investigative agency reiterated that opening a Thai bank account for another person is a crime, regardless of whether the "mule" knew about the criminal plans of that person or not.
In this particular case, as follows from the CIB report, those arrested may be charged with complicity in fraud. However, even without taking into account criminal articles, the "mules" face up to 3 years in prison under the current one from 2023.
The decree on combating cybercrime: https://www.mdes.go.th/law/detail/6664
The new decree prescribes punishment for opening bank accounts and electronic wallets, as well as issuing SIM cards in the interests of third parties for use for illegal purposes. The very opening of an account or the purchase of a SIM card for a third party is punishable.
* Registration of a SIM card, e-wallet, bank account in the interests of third parties for their illegal activities - up to 3 years in prison and/or up to 300 thousand baht fine.
* Involvement of other persons in the registration of SIM cards, electronic wallets, bank accounts in the interests of third parties for illegal activities - from 2 to 5 years in prison and/or from 200 to 500 thousand baht fine.
The Decree on Combating Cybercrime, as well as the Law on Computer Crimes, supplement the Criminal Code in terms of punishment for fraud on the Internet. In the case of "mules", all three are applicable at the same time.
