A 32-year-old man who claimed to have earned 200,000-4000,000 baht a month falsifying official documents for over 10 years has been arrested in Lampang province.
Apiwat Kanthawong, of Lampang province, was arrested at a post office in Muang district of this northern province and charged with falsifying official documents and putting false information into a computer system, said Pol Maj Gen Panurat Lakboon, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau during a media briefing on Friday.
Seized from the suspect’s house were several rolls of Chinese-made films bearing the Land Transport Department seal watermark used exclusively by the department, many fake official documents such as identification cards, driving licences and title deeds. About 1,000 items used in producing false documents were also seized.
The arrest of the suspect came after police nabbed a major suspect involved in falsifying Land Transport Department’s documents.
Fake title deeds seized from the suspect. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
The officers then extended the investigation, which led to the arrest of Mr Apiwat, said Pol Maj Gen Panurat.
The suspect had used Facebook page and Line chat application to advertise his services, which include faking ID cards, driving licences, car registration booklets and car tax documents.
Pol Maj Watcharin Oumfung, investigation chief at the Metropolitan Police Division 6, said Mr Apiwat confessed to faking official documents for over 10 years. He had more than 1,000 customers.
The suspect charged customers 2,500-3,000 baht each an ID card, 3,500-4,000 baht for a driving licence, and 5,000 baht for a land title deed.
The suspect claimed he had acted alone and earned 200,000-400,000 baht a month, said Pol Maj Watcharin.