Authorities are expanding their investigation into a Chinese birth registration network after arresting 32 of 35 suspects accused of helping Chinese families obtain Thai birth certificates through illegal “fake father” arrangements.
Ratawit Jitsujaritwong, secretary of the Department of Provincial Administration’s national identity crime enforcement section, said the suspects were being questioned at Bang Yi Ruea police station in Thon Buri district.
Investigators hope to identify accomplices and trace financial transactions.
Investigators have asked courts to deny bail for all suspects after discovering that several Chinese mothers linked to the network had fled Thailand with their children.
Police said one alleged financier of the network, Chinese national Chen Yin Lai, was arrested in 2024 on money laundering charges linked to a call-centre scam. His wife reportedly left Thailand with their three children and remains overseas.
Authorities also said a Thai man previously arrested had acted as a “fake father” for the family.
Investigators are examining additional suspects believed to have falsely claimed paternity for multiple Chinese families. The probe has also been expanded to five private hospitals after officials discovered children living in properties linked to Chinese investors.
The children’s names did not appear in the records of the hospitals where they were actually born. Further investigation found their births had instead been registered through the five suspected hospitals.
Officials questioned how birth certificates could have been issued when the alleged Thai fathers were not present during childbirth but were later listed as legal fathers.
Mr Ratawit dismissed claims officials accused of negligence or collusion may have been used as scapegoats, saying they were legally required to verify applications but failed to carry out proper checks.
He said the officials had delegated the registration process to an outside individual instead of conducting the required verification, suggesting possible deliberate involvement.
Officials said those arrested included alleged fake fathers. Three suspects, including Mr Chen’s wife, remain at large. Authorities are also investigating whether additional government officials or hospitals were involved.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran said about 500 Chinese children had obtained Thai nationality through fraudulent parent registrations facilitated by the network.
