A Facebook storm as Kasikornbank exposes a fake ฿7 million payment slip naming PM Anutin. Special Branch probes Godd Dam’s monarchy posts, while cybercrime police trace its operator and investigate politicians who shared the image. No arrests so far.
Thai police have launched a major criminal investigation into a Facebook page with 130,000 followers after it published a fake ฿7 million bank transfer implicating Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Kasikornbank exposed the bogus transaction, while Special Branch filed a separate complaint over posts concerning the monarchy. The operator now faces possible prosecution under Section 112 and the Computer Crime Act. Meanwhile, a 26-year-old former Move Forward Party member has emerged as the suspected operator. Cybercrime police are also investigating the circulation of the claims by politicians, including a People’s Party MP. Anutin denies wrongdoing and may sue. However, despite the mounting police offensive, no arrests or summonses have been issued.
Thai police launched a major criminal investigation on Monday into a Facebook page with 130,000 followers. The page faces accusations of publishing false information about Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Thailand’s monarchy.
The action followed the publication of a purported ฿7 million bank transfer to Anutin, which Kasikornbank rejected as fake. Separately, Special Branch police filed a formal complaint over earlier posts concerning the monarchy.
Cybercrime investigators also intervened, while a former Move Forward Party member was identified as the suspected operator. However, police confirmed that no arrests had been made or summonses issued.
Godd Dam publishes purported ฿7 million transfer to Anutin before Kasikornbank rejects bank details
The controversy centres on the Facebook page Godd Dam, established on 13 December 2022. It has accumulated approximately 130,000 followers and attracted attention for its political publications.
On Sunday night, the page circulated an electronic banking receipt purportedly showing a ฿7 million payment to Anutin. The accompanying message described the transaction as “tea money”, a Thai expression commonly associated with bribery and unofficial payments.
The document carried a transaction date of 31 October 2023, at precisely 3.03 pm. At that time, Anutin was serving as deputy prime minister and interior minister. He subsequently became prime minister and remains leader of the ruling Bhumjaithai Party. The purported payment therefore concerned his previous period in government, almost three years before Monday’s controversy.
Kasikornbank responded on Monday with a public clarification rejecting the purported transaction. Crucially, the bank confirmed that the recipient account number did not exist in its banking system.
It also identified a second discrepancy involving the transfer amount. The K PLUS mobile banking application has a daily transfer limit of ฿5 million. By contrast, the circulated image purported to show a single payment of ฿7 million.
Bank finds nonexistent account as disputed payment image spreads online and government rejects claims
The document therefore failed two checks against the bank’s own records and transaction limits. The purported payment exceeded the stated daily limit by ฿2 million. More significantly, the recipient account number could not be found in the bank’s system. These findings directly contradicted the image circulated by Godd Dam and its accompanying allegations.
The publication rapidly attracted attention across Thai social media, prompting criticism and widespread sharing. However, the original post was reportedly removed less than an hour after publication.
The page’s operator subsequently indicated that the campaign would continue on X, formerly Twitter. By then, the purported receipt had already attracted the attention of government officials and police investigators.
Government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises rejected the claims on Monday morning. He described the purported transaction as fabricated information intended to distort facts and discredit Anutin. According to the spokesman, the publication was designed to damage the prime minister for political purposes. His intervention came as police and government agencies began examining the document’s origins.
Special Branch files formal complaint over earlier Godd Dam posts concerning Thailand’s monarchy
The response quickly extended beyond the disputed bank transfer. Notably, Special Branch police moved against the page over earlier publications concerning Thailand’s monarchy.
This introduced a separate criminal investigation involving possible offences under the country’s strict lèse-majesté legislation. The action also brought national security investigators directly into the controversy.
At approximately 1 pm on Monday, Police Lieutenant Colonel Than Chaisang visited Bang Khen Police Station in Bangkok. He is a deputy superintendent attached to Investigation Division 2 of the Special Branch Bureau. The officer lodged a formal complaint concerning material previously published by Godd Dam. Investigating officers accepted the complaint and began proceedings under established legal procedures.
According to police reports, the page had repeatedly published false, distorted and satirical material concerning the monarchy. Investigators considered some posts derogatory towards the royal institution.
They also raised concerns that the publications could undermine public confidence and affect national security. The complaint therefore concerned a wider pattern of online activity, rather than one disputed financial document.
Police monitoring of monarchy-related posts brings national security investigators into Facebook case
Furthermore, Special Branch officers had reportedly monitored the page and gathered evidence concerning its earlier publications. Their investigation was already examining material predating the latest bank transfer controversy.
The bureau has responsibilities involving intelligence gathering and national security. Its formal intervention consequently marked a substantial escalation in the police response.
The page’s history has now become an important part of the inquiry. Established in December 2022, Godd Dam had operated for nearly four years before Monday’s complaint. During that period, it attracted approximately 130,000 followers. Police reports described publications mocking the monarchy and circulating information investigators considered false or misleading.
The Special Branch complaint specifically concerned earlier monarchy-related material. In contrast, the purported ฿7 million transfer prompted separate action by cybercrime investigators. Both inquiries involve the same Facebook page, but the potential criminal offences differ. Police must therefore examine individual publications and establish responsibility for each.
Section 112 and Computer Crime Act provisions expose page operator to possible serious criminal charges
The monarchy-related investigation raises the possibility of prosecution under Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code. The provision criminalises defamation, insults or threats against the King, Queen, heir apparent or Regent.
Convictions carry prison sentences ranging from three to 15 years for each offence. Consequently, any charges under Section 112 would expose those responsible to substantial criminal penalties.
Another potential avenue involves the Computer Crime Act 2007, as amended in 2017. Section 14 covers specified categories of unlawful computer information, including certain false information affecting public security. Relevant offences can carry imprisonment of up to five years and fines reaching ฿100,000. However, investigators must establish the legal elements of each offence before criminal responsibility can be determined.
The distinction between personal complaints and offences against the state is also relevant. Ordinary criminal defamation proceedings generally require a complaint from the injured party. By comparison, police can initiate proceedings concerning qualifying offences against the state. The Special Branch complaint therefore provides a separate route for investigating the monarchy-related publications.
Cybercrime officers join inquiry into disputed bank transfer and examine who published and shared posts
In parallel, Thailand’s Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau launched an investigation into the purported bank transfer. Police Lieutenant General Thinnakorn Rangmat, the bureau’s commissioner, confirmed that officers had been assigned to the case.
He directed Cyber Crime Division 4 and other relevant units to examine the disputed document. Investigators were instructed to establish its origins and identify those responsible for publication.
By approximately 4.30 pm, Police Colonel Natthaphon Rattanamongkhonsak had visited Bang Khen Police Station. He is superintendent of Division 3 within Cyber Crime Division 4. His visit concerned the existing complaint and the purported electronic transfer. As a result, officers from separate police units were gathering evidence involving the same Facebook account.
The cybercrime investigation also extends to earlier posts and the circumstances surrounding their publication. Officers are examining whether individual messages constitute separate criminal offences. In addition, investigators are reviewing the actions of people who redistributed the disputed material. That includes politicians who shared the purported payment receipt through their own social media accounts.
Cybercrime chief warns those sharing unlawful posts may face charges as former party member is named
Thinnakorn warned that people sharing unlawful information could also face prosecution. He said investigators would examine both the original publisher and those responsible for subsequent distribution.
However, criminal liability depends on the applicable offence and evidence concerning each person’s actions. Police have not established that everyone who shared the image committed an offence.
The commissioner also faced questions about the speed of the police response. Reporters asked whether the case was receiving special attention because the disputed payment concerned the prime minister. Thinnakorn rejected suggestions of favouritism and maintained that officers were performing their normal duties. He said police would investigate matters affecting ordinary citizens with the same commitment.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that investigators were still gathering evidence and verifying the facts. Further information would be released once the inquiry had progressed. The prime minister had not specifically authorised anyone to lodge a personal complaint on his behalf. Any decision to pursue separate proceedings remained Anutin’s responsibility.
On another front, reports emerged identifying the suspected operator of Godd Dam. The individual was named only as Chairat, aged 26, originally from Chum Saeng district in Nakhon Sawan province. He reportedly holds a bachelor’s degree in business computing from a university in northern Thailand. Significantly, he was also identified as a former member of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party.
Police deny arrest rumours as investigators verify identity of suspected Godd Dam Facebook page operator
The man is believed to be living in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. His reported identification followed inquiries involving the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and Royal Thai Police. However, investigators stressed that his connection to the account still required verification. No formal finding of criminal responsibility had been announced.
Thinnakorn said officers needed to establish the account’s true ownership before proceeding against any individual. They must also determine who created and published each disputed message. Police believe the page is operated by one person rather than an organised group. Even so, investigators are continuing to examine its history and the available evidence.
Reports identifying Chairat quickly prompted rumours that the suspected operator had already been arrested. The Royal Thai Police rejected those claims. Police Major General Siriwat Deepor, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, confirmed that nobody had been arrested. He also said no individual had been summoned for questioning.
Additionally, Siriwat rejected reports that a suspect had been taken to Bang Khen Police Station. He confirmed that the investigation remained at the evidence-gathering stage. Police were working to identify the responsible individual and determine the applicable criminal offences. Consequently, reports of an arrest or police custody were incorrect as of Monday evening.
Police outline separate routes to prosecution while Anutin reserves right to take personal legal action
The police spokesman also explained the legal procedures governing different categories of offences. Personal defamation cases generally require a complaint from the injured party. Conversely, police can initiate proceedings concerning qualifying Computer Crime Act offences and offences against the state. This distinction is particularly relevant to the separate Special Branch investigation.
Siriwat warned that people who knowingly circulated unlawful material could also face criminal proceedings. The warning followed widespread redistribution of the purported bank receipt. It also came amid growing political attention surrounding the page’s reported ownership. Investigators are examining the circumstances of publication and subsequent sharing before determining whether further action is justified.
At Government House, Prime Minister Anutin addressed the controversy on Monday. He rejected the allegations concerning the purported transfer and dismissed the online claims as false. The prime minister said he did not attach importance to such material. Nevertheless, he made clear that he reserved the right to pursue legal proceedings.
Anutin confirmed that legal advisers and lawyers were available to protect his reputation. Reporters also asked whether he might pursue politicians who had shared the disputed image. In response, he indicated that he retained the right to consider legal action. However, he did not announce a separate complaint against those involved.
Anutin denies ordering investigation as People’s Party distances itself from former Move Forward member
The prime minister also denied personally directing the police investigation. He maintained that he had issued no instructions concerning the case. Instead, he said he had learned about developments through news reports. His remarks followed questions about the speed and scale of the response by different police agencies.
Reporters additionally raised criticism from former Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha. Sirichok had contrasted the rapid investigation with police action against illegal gambling websites. Anutin declined to engage with that comparison. He referred questions about police operations to the National Police Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the controversy developed into a political dispute involving the opposition People’s Party. Reports identifying the suspected operator as a former Move Forward Party member brought the party into the affair. Move Forward was dissolved in 2024, after which many former MPs joined the People’s Party. The reported connection therefore prompted questions about the suspected operator’s political background.
People’s Party spokeswoman and list MP Phakamon Noonanant responded on Monday. She said the party did not support political campaigning based on fabricated information. Furthermore, she stressed that actions undertaken by former members were individual matters. Such conduct did not represent the party’s policies or position.
People’s Party questions police priorities as politicians face scrutiny for sharing disputed bank image
The party was also checking the reported individual’s membership history. Phakamon acknowledged that People’s Party MPs had been reminded to verify information before sharing it publicly. However, she challenged the government to demonstrate comparable urgency against illegal gambling operations and criminal financial networks. Her response followed criticism concerning the speed of the Godd Dam investigation.
Separately, People’s Party MP Rukchanok Srinork was identified among politicians who had shared the disputed publication. That development attracted attention following the cybercrime commissioner’s warning about redistribution of unlawful material. However, no criminal charges against Rukchanok were confirmed in Monday’s reports. Investigators had not announced findings concerning her actions.
Members of the governing Bhumjaithai Party also condemned the purported transfer and its circulation. Ang Thong MP Korrawee Prisananant strongly criticised people who shared the information without verifying its authenticity. He described their conduct as “stupid, incompetent and bad”. His remarks followed Kasikornbank’s rejection of the recipient account number and transaction amount.
Boonthida Somchai, a Bhumjaithai spokeswoman and deputy minister of digital economy and society, also addressed the controversy. She warned that circulating inaccurate information could cause damage and lead to legal consequences. Her intervention came as cybercrime officers continued examining the disputed publication. The ministry was also involved in wider efforts to establish the account’s ownership.
Other financial claims surface as investigators examine handbag purchase and source of bank receipt
Beyond the purported ฿7 million payment, Godd Dam had circulated other financial claims. According to Thai PBS, these included material concerning a designer handbag transaction exceeding ฿280,000. The page also referred to substantial financial movements and called for official scrutiny. Specifically, it sought attention from the Anti-Money Laundering Office and National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The page reportedly claimed that the transfer image originated from an Instagram story associated with a person named Nakharin. However, the additional financial allegations remain unverified. Monday’s reports did not establish that those transactions had occurred. Nor did they provide evidence proving wrongdoing by the individuals mentioned.
The disputed bank receipt itself remains central to the cybercrime inquiry. It purported to record a transfer at 3.03 pm on 31 October 2023. At that time, Anutin held the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister. The document therefore placed the alleged payment during his previous service in government.
Yet Kasikornbank’s clarification directly challenged the receipt’s authenticity. The recipient account number did not exist in the bank’s system. Moreover, the purported ฿7 million payment exceeded its stated K PLUS daily transfer limit. These findings formed part of the information available to investigators examining the document.
Kasikornbank limits its findings to disputed receipt as police examine separate potential offences
The bank’s statement concerned the specific receipt circulated online. It did not establish the existence or absence of unrelated financial transactions. Rather, it rejected the account details and payment amount shown in the disputed image. The separate claims concerning other financial movements remained unverified.
As the inquiry continued, Special Branch officers were examining earlier monarchy-related publications. Cybercrime investigators were separately reviewing the disputed receipt and identifying those responsible for its circulation. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and other security agencies were also involved. Together, these inquiries cover the page’s ownership, publication history and possible criminal offences.
The investigation therefore involves several distinct legal questions. One concerns the creation and publication of the purported ฿7 million transfer. Another involves earlier material which Special Branch officers consider potentially unlawful under legislation protecting the monarchy. A further question concerns whether individuals who redistributed specific publications committed separate offences.
No arrests or summonses as Special Branch complaint proceeds and cybercrime police gather more evidence
Despite the involvement of several police agencies, no arrests had been confirmed by Monday evening. Nor had investigators announced summonses against the suspected operator or other individuals.
The reported identification of Chairat remained subject to verification. Police were continuing to collect evidence and examine the Facebook page’s previous publications.
The Special Branch complaint had nevertheless been formally lodged and accepted at Bang Khen Police Station. Cybercrime officers were also actively investigating the purported transfer and the account’s activities.
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Meanwhile, Anutin had reserved his legal rights without announcing a separate personal complaint.
The next stage rests with investigators establishing responsibility for individual publications and determining the applicable offences. Any summonses, arrest warrants or criminal charges will depend on the evidence and legal procedures. For now, the police investigation covers both the disputed bank transfer and earlier monarchy-related posts. No suspect had been arrested or summoned for questioning by Monday evening.
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