Chon Buri: Police have arrested a man in Pattaya for allegedly using the photo of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's identification card to register SIM cards to be sold to customers.
Deputy police spokesman Kritsana Pattanacharoen said yesterday the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) was alerted by Real Move Co, the operator of mobile phone system network services for True Move SIM cards, that the pictures of the premier's ID and his photo were used several times in registering SIM cards between March and May.
The operator was concerned the SIM cards could be exploited for misuse, he said.
Following the information, the TCSD expedited efforts to hunt down the suspect, who was later identified as Peerames Wongthongkua, 31, according to the deputy spokesman. A warrant was then issued to arrest him. On Wednesday evening, officers from the TCSD and Crime Suppression Division arrested Mr Peerames at a mobile phone shop in South Pattaya.
The suspect confessed to registering by himself the SIM cards, most of which were sold to foreign customers, said Pol Col Kritsana. The suspect was taken to the TCSD for prosecution.
Pol Col Kritsana said he instructed the telecom operator to suspend all of the SIM cards that have been wrongly registered under the name of the prime minister.
The deputy police spokesman said the offender brought false information into the computer system, which caused damage to others.
He warned people that such actions could land them in legal trouble, adding those who want to register SIM cards must use their real names.
Officers will be vigilant and prosecute offenders stringently, he said.
Police chief Chakthip Chaijinda has ordered a wider probe into those who may have collaborated with the suspect, according to Pol Col Kritsana.
