Mongkol Preesukkasem, a fake prosecutor, was arrested for fraud on July 25 by city police while giving a lecture at a school in Nonthaburi province. His blatant impersonation of public officials with power has stunned the public. The arrest followed a series of complaints filed against him over several months.
Watcharin Phanurat, a deputy spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), said Mr Mongkol had been wearing the full uniforms of senior prosecutors to mislead those around him.
Mr Watcharin said a senior prosecutor had appointed Mr Mongkol as a personal adviser in September 2022. When the prosecutor was promoted to another position in October of that year, Mr Mongkol's term as adviser should have ended. However, it was found that Mr Mongkol continued to mislead others, behaving as if he were still in the role and wearing uniforms to present himself as a prosecutor. "Simply donning a uniform without justification is sufficient grounds for his arrest," said the OAG deputy spokesman.
Mr Mongkol, who claimed to be the president of the Pitakpracharatnukroh Foundation, posted photos of himself with prominent figures, such as former police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, on his Facebook page. In one photo, he posed in front of a senior prosecutor's office, apparently to mislead others into believing it was his workplace.
In another photo, dated Sept 3 of the previous year, he is seen holding a badge from the Special Service Division (SSD) -- formerly the King's Bodyguard 904 regiment -- with several others. It is believed he had conducted a workshop for the agency. These photos were intended to falsely impress others with his connections to important institutions.
Mr Watcharin mentioned that Mr Mongkol might have possessed public speaking skills that allowed him to deceive others, leading to invitations to speak at various events.
His arrogance and recklessness eventually raised suspicion among those around him. Thanyaburi police had previously charged him with threatening and using profanity against a police officer on April 25 of the previous year. The court sentenced him to a 15-day jail term, suspended for two years. He did not show remorse; instead, he attempted to court a young female prosecutor, prompting her family to investigate his background, which eventually led to his arrest.
After his arrest, Mr Mongkol sent a note to the Taling Chan Court of Justice on July 30, claiming he was conducting a class under the Jit Arsa 904 volunteer project of His Majesty the King at the time of his arrest. By mentioning the royal volunteer project, he attempted to coerce the court into releasing him. The OAG has vowed to take serious action against him this time.
On one hand, the sluggish investigation by the OAG allowed the fake prosecutor to deceive others for an extended period. On the other hand, the high demand for special training or courses, often aimed merely at enhancing participants' social status and connections, provides opportunities for such fraudsters to thrive, particularly in the absence of effective screening.
Some readers may recall Prasit Jeowkok, a fraudulent businessman who exploited connections through volunteer projects to lure people into investment scams.
Although he is now serving time in jail, the victims may never recover their lost money and property. It is crucial for those concerned to scrutinise such workshops and courses, or they risk becoming breeding grounds for individuals like Mr Mongkol.