KHON KAEN: A woman and two accomplices have been arrested for providing fake land title deeds for use in obtaining loans, causing damages of at least 24 million baht.
Ubonrat Montri, 51, was caught in a police sting, offering to sell a fake land deed at a petrol station on Mittraphab Road in Nam Phong district. Two men, identified as Somphan Kosila and Udom Phutnant, were also detained.
Pol Maj Gen Surachai Kuandachacupt, commander of Provincial Police Region 4, said investigators had carefully planned the trap after Kranuan police station received reports of people using false title deeds to get loans.
The initial complaints involved 69 fake deeds used as collateral for around 5 million baht in loans.
With more reports still coming in, total damages were estimated at 24 million baht, said Pol Maj Gen Surachai.
The gang has been operating in Khon Kaen province, particularly in Kranuan and Phra Yuen districts.
Police earlier arrested around 20 people who used fake deed documents. The investigation finally led to Ms Ubonrat as the person who forged the papers.
Ms Ubonrat allegedly confessed to producing the forgeries herself. She charged 13,000-15,000 baht for a ready-to-use deed complete with names of landholders, rubber stamps and signatures of land officials. Blank title deeds were sold for 5,000 baht each.
The police also seized three completed forged deeds, seven blanks, a typewriter, a "Land Office" rubber stamp and two rubber stamps with names of officials, and other items.
Ms Ubonrat said the two arrested men normally delivered the fake documents to customers and were paid 500 baht each time.
All suspects were charged with colluding to forge state documents and use of fake documents.
Pol Maj Gen Surachai said people could tell the difference between the real and fake title deeds by looking for the clear watermark and perforated edge, as the real deed must be torn from the stub.
A police diagram presenting the connections and victims of Ubonrat Montri (right, wearing black blouse on red background).