On the crime front, public attention was dominated to a large degree by news stories that were wide-ranging, unusual and controversial. The alleged bitcoin fraud had police and readers delving into the complexity of the cryptocurrency issue, which is new to most people, while the arrest of senior clergy in temple fund embezzlement cases tested people's faith in Buddhism. Meanwhile, the arrest of a policeman-turned-hitman responsible for at least two murders, brought back memories of his alleged connection to the kidnapping and murders of the wife and son of a jeweller holding vital clues in the 1995 stolen Saudi gems case. Police also claimed success in nabbing all overstayers in a long-running crackdown. However, the reportedly accidental shooting death of an Indian tourist in a gun battle between two rival Bangkok gangs undermined confidence in tourist safety.
1 Investor takes bitcoin bait
The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) spent eight months tracking the money trail of a network accused of swindling a Finnish investor out of almost 800 million baht worth of bitcoin, which led to the arrest of the first suspect in August this year.
On Jan 30, business woman Chonnikan Kaewkasee filed a police complaint on behalf of Aarni Otava Saarimaa, a 22-year-old investor from Finland, who said he lost 797.4 million baht worth of bitcoin to the gang.
The gang members, according to the investor, lured him into investing in Dragon Coin, a cryptocurrency, and buying shares of Expay Software Co, NX Chain Inc as well as DNA 2002 Plc. It was found later that the investments were fraudulent as they did not take place.
Jaravijit family members appear before the press in October to defend themselves against charges they face in connection with alleged bitcoin fraud. From left, Supitcha, actor Jiratpisit and Thanasit. VARUTH HIRUNYATHEB
Police investigators apprehended the first suspect, actor Jiratpisit Jaravijit, on Aug 8 at a department store, where he was shooting a drama series.
His older brother, Prinya Jaravijit, who was the alleged mastermind behind the scam, was apprehended after returning to Thailand from the US on Oct 10 after his passport was revoked.
Two other younger siblings of Mr Prinya -- Thanasit and Supitcha Jaravijit -- and his parents are facing money laundering charges as they allegedly received the swindled money from the prime suspect.
According to an investigation, a banker told Mr Prinya about Mr Saarimaa, who had accrued a substantial amount of bitcoin after he began mining the cryptocurrency when he was only 12 years old. The suspect then met the Finnish investor and invited him to make investments.
2 Test of faith for Buddhism
As dawn broke on May 24, Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers searched three popular temples in Bangkok and apprehended senior monks and their associates in connection with with temple fund embezzlement.
At Wat Sam Phraya, they arrested Phra Phrom Dilok, the abbot, and his secretary, Phra Atthakit Sophon. At the time, Phra Phrom Dilok was also a member of the Supreme Sangha Council and the ecclesiastical governor of Bangkok's order of monks. Phra Atthakit was secretary to the ecclesiastical governor of Bangkok.
At Wat Sa Ket, the CSD nabbed Phra Sri Khunaporn, Phra Wichit Thammaporn, and Phra Khru Siriwihankansomjit, all of whom were temple assistant abbots.
Senior monks are escorted from court in May to be remanded in connection with the temple fund embezzlement case. Tawatchai Kemgumnerd
However, police failed to arrest Phra Phrom Methee, assistant abbot at Wat Samphanthawong, who escaped and fled the country reportedly to a destination in Germany.
Four laymen were also rounded up during the raids for their alleged involvement in the scandal.
They all face charges in connection with the alleged embezzlement of state funds set aside for spreading Buddhism and for financing Phra Pariyatti Dhamma schools which conduct religious studies. The embezzled money was said to have been transferred to a number of individuals.
All the senior monks have been detained and denied bail.
Phra Phrom Methee was initially reported to have sought asylum in Germany. Authorities are in the process of seeking his extradition to face charges in Thailand. An investigation is still ongoing to track down more suspects believed to have conspired in committing the offences.
3 Cop turned bad brought to book
An investigation into a fatal shooting at a petrol station in Sa Kaeo municipality on Sept 30 led police to a notorious hitman, who is a former police officer.
Prior to this case, the gunman was suspected of involvement in at least two other murder cases.
Pansak Mongkolsilp
The gunman was named as Pansak Mongkolsilp, a former police lieutenant colonel. He was accused of shooting dead the petrol station owner, Pracha Worathat, and wounding his wife, Palida.
Crime Suppression Division commander Jirabhop Bhuridej, who was promoted to division chief at the beginning of October, had instructed officers to intensify the search for the suspect.
Pansak was later cornered at a resort in Rayong's Pluak Daeng district on Oct 14. He was there with his wife.
According to police, Pansak was hired to gun down the petrol station owner by Damrongrit Kittiwaraphon, who had a business dispute with Pracha.
Pansak was said to be on the most-wanted list of top hitmen in the country.
He was linked to a team that kidnapped and murdered the wife and son of a jeweller who was believed to have had vital information on the whereabouts of stolen Saudi gems from the controversial theft case from 1994.
He was also suspected of involvement in the 2013 murder of a businessman at Rong Klua market in Sa Keao's Aranyaprathet district, whose body was burned beyond recognition in a forest in Prachin Buri.
4 Gang war claims crossfire victim
An Indian tourist was killed and four other people injured in a shootout between two rival gangs in the Pratunam area on Oct 7.
The police launched a massive manhunt for the gunmen and gave daily updates in press briefings on the case.
A motorcyclist stops to look at a bloodstained pavement where an Indian tourist was killed and four other people injured in a shootout between two rival gangs in the Pratunam area on Oct 7. Chanat Katanyu
Acting deputy city police chief Khatcha Thatsat said police detained one suspect, Preecha Sakudomphaisan, and had asked for court warrants for the arrest of five others.
The police reviewed footage from four security cameras at the crime scene before Mr Preecha turned himself in to Phaya Thai police and was reportedly charged with premeditated murder.
The man reportedly ran a snooker hall in the area and a quarrel with a rival gang led to the gunfight.
The investigators, however, were not convinced the shooting was linked to local influential figures.
The motive for the gunfight is likely to have resulted from a personal conflict, Pol Maj Gen Khatcha said.
Mr Preecha had allegedly been threatened by associates of Bamphen Phumphuang, 23, who did not believe Mr Preecha was in charge of the snooker hall. Their quarrel erupted in a car park near a shopping mall where foreign tourists were waiting to board a coach. When they fired at each other, several bullets hit the five victims.
According to investigators who found shells from different weapons at the crime scene, an AK-47 was believed to have been used by at least one gunman.
This prompted Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to order a new crackdown on illegal firearms.
5 Crackdown ejects unwelcome guests
A long-running crackdown on foreigners overstaying their visas led police to believe in October that they had the immigration problem under control.
According to police, more than 40,000 overstayers were apprehended in October and were the last group of offenders breaking immigration laws. They are being deported and blacklisted from re-entering the country.
The crackdown, which kicked off in October last year, was named "X-Ray Outlaw Foreigners".
More than 50 Pakistani people are rounded up as part of an Immigration Bureau crackdown on illegal entry and visa overstaying by foreigners. Somchai Poomlard
It was initiated by Immigration Bureau commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, who claimed more than 100,000 foreigners were still in the country despite their visas having expired.
According to him, the overstayers posed a risk to national security as they were prone to committing crimes.
Pol Lt Gen Surachate has made it clear to immigration offices across the country that they need to give foreigners based in their areas at least seven days prior warning before their visas expire.
If the foreigners fail to abide by the visa terms, officers must hunt them down, he said.
Immigration officers were also told to comb areas where there might be overstayers twice a week. They were to do this in collaboration with the Labour Ministry, which formed 35 teams across the country to deal with illegal migrant workers.
Foreign criminal syndicates were also busted, including Chinese call-centre gangs and romance scam networks.