Deputy Prime Minister Supamas Iatsraphakdi, overseeing the Consumer Protection Board (CPB), announced action against an airline ticket fraud scheme targeting routes to Japan, South Korea, and Europe. Multiple victims filed complaints after being deceived by a travel agency that falsely advertised airline promotions but failed to deliver tickets or allow travel, causing damages exceeding 10 million baht.

The scam operated by initially delivering legitimate tickets to early customers, generating word-of-mouth referrals. Since April, the company stopped delivering tickets and demanded additional payments for fuel surcharges and airport taxes. When customers transferred extra funds, they received nothing, and refund requests were indefinitely delayed.

Supamas ordered the CPB to establish a task force for urgent complaints and create a fast-track consumer rights protection process. Officials will meet with affected consumers, the business operator, and airlines on May 21 to gather facts and attempt mediation. If no settlement is reached, the CPB will immediately pursue cases on behalf of consumers while coordinating with law enforcement for criminal prosecution of all charges without exception.

The CPB must report progress every seven days and regularly disclose information to the public to ensure no complaints fall through the cracks. Supamas advised the public to follow three verification steps before transferring money: verify identity by purchasing directly from airlines or trusted platforms and checking business registration with the Tourism Authority; check prices against major airline websites to avoid suspiciously cheap tickets; and avoid transferring to personal accounts or additional payments claiming to fix old deals, which are typical fraud indicators.

Supamas warned that the government and CPB will take strict action against anyone exploiting online loopholes to defraud consumers and urged the public to verify all details carefully before making transfers.

On May 15, Phot Aramwattananont, chairman of the Zero Corruption Task Force of GCR and chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, along with teams from three private sector institutions—GCR, the Thai Anti-Corruption Organization (Thailand), the Institute for Justice (TIJ), and academics from TDRI—met with Deputy Prime Minister Phorn Nila Praphand (Legal Affairs) to propose sustainable solutions to corruption and push for legal reforms to strengthen the country's competitive capacity.

The Zero Corruption Task Force presented three key initiatives:

1. Declaring anti-corruption as a "national agenda" and proposing the establishment of a "National Anti-Corruption Committee" chaired by the Prime Minister, along with a public-private cooperation committee to jointly monitor and promote ethical practices.

2. Using digital technology to open government data, proposing the use of budget tracking dashboards and centralized data exchange systems to reduce official discretion and emphasize interconnected government data.

3. Elevating four transparency pilot agencies—the Finance Ministry, Interior Ministry, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration—by emphasizing the disclosure of procurement information through the e-Government Procurement system and establishing citizen feedback mechanisms.

The task force also proposed the "Reinvent Thailand" plan to address outdated laws that obstruct business operations in target industries.

Deputy Prime Minister Phorn Nila Praphand acknowledged the proposals and stated that the government has a clear policy against corruption, particularly closing legal loopholes that facilitate bribery. He committed to presenting these recommendations to the Prime Minister.

The next step for Zero Corruption will be tabled at a GCR meeting on May 19 to prioritize laws requiring urgent reform, with emphasis on measures benefiting small businesses and the general public. The refined proposal will be discussed again with the Deputy Prime Minister in early June 2025, with a June 10 submission deadline before proceeding to the Cabinet meeting.

"We must work together to build trust and confidence. Without it, the country cannot move forward," the statement emphasized.

A touching story from China has gone viral online after a young blogger drove over 1,300 kilometers to help a female student get back home to see her mother one last time before the funeral. The incident involved a fourth-year student from North Min University in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northern China. On the evening of May 7, the student received news that her mother had died suddenly. With her hometown located in a remote mountainous area, she frantically searched for the fastest way to travel. Her roommate contacted blogger Yu Jinhui, a physical education student who co-manages the social media account @yuyuqiubite with 730,000 followers, asking for help. Yu and his team immediately agreed to the task. They picked up the unnamed student and comforted her during her time of deep sorrow before departing at 1:30 a.m. on May 8. Throughout the long journey, Yu drove the entire route while his three teammates kept him company and helped keep him alert. The total travel time was approximately 13 hours to reach a village in Enshi, Hubei Province. During the final 100 kilometers, Yu nearly ran out of energy and became nauseous from consuming large amounts of energy drinks to fight drowsiness. Despite his exhaustion, the team still purchased offerings and paid their respects to the student's mother, staying there for about 2 hours before returning. Yu revealed that the team spent approximately 5,200 yuan (around 24,000 baht) on the entire journey, covering fuel, highway tolls, food, accommodation, and offerings. They also gave an additional 1,000 yuan (around 4,800 baht) to the student as assistance. When the student tried to offer payment for fuel as repayment, Yu's team refused all compensation, choosing to help out of their own goodwill.

A sedan struck a fallen motorcyclist and dragged the body dozens of meters along the road in a tragic accident. On May 16, authorities reported that late the previous night, Deputy Lt. Somchai Muay Dee of the Tha Sala Police Station received a report of a motorcycle accident where a sedan had run over the rider at the curve in Thung area on the Nakhon-Tha Sala Road, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. After being notified, officers coordinated with the Tha Sala Hospital emergency doctor and rescue personnel to investigate the scene. Upon arrival, they found the body of Kanpattana, known as "Bangnuk Pakphying," a well-respected figure in the Tha Sala cockfighting community and organizer of major cockfighting tournaments in the area. The body bore marks of being dragged dozens of meters along the road, with a blue Honda motorcycle overturned nearby and the sedan parked not far from the accident scene. Investigation determined that Kanpattana was riding the motorcycle at high speed when it lost control and fell into the middle of the road. The sedan traveling behind at high speed could not brake in time, struck the fallen rider, and dragged the body dozens of meters along the road, resulting in his death. Authorities have collected evidence and interviewed the sedan driver for further legal action.

Prime Minister Anupong Paojinda has expressed concern over the growing issue of foreigners using Thai nationals as nominee landholders to circumvent restrictions on foreign land ownership. This practice has created anxiety among the public regarding land prices and access to property resources for Thai citizens. The PM has ordered the Land Department to elevate inspection and oversight measures for land transactions nationwide, aiming to prevent Thais from being used as fronts for foreign land purchases and to block exploitation of legal loopholes.

Following this directive, the Land Department has sent urgent instructions to provincial governors nationwide, requesting that land officials work closely with relevant agencies to strictly implement anti-nominee guidelines. The department is also launching public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of nominee arrangements and encouraging reporting of suspected violations to authorities. All provincial land offices have been instructed to intensify monitoring and investigation of high-risk transactions, with particular attention to major economic zones, tourist destinations, and areas with significant foreign capital investment.

The Land Department confirmed it has been conducting ongoing investigations, including deep audits of fund sources, property ownership links, corporate shareholding structures, and suspicious behavioral patterns indicating nominee arrangements. When violations are suspected, immediate investigation and legal action follow. Specific scrutiny protocols include: (1) investigations when individuals or Thai-owned companies purchase land with cash payments exceeding 2 million baht or property valued above 5 million baht, with exceptions for legitimate inheritance; (2) careful examination of corporate entities with suspicious shareholding changes, capital increases, or unusual share transfers intended to circumvent foreign ownership restrictions; and (3) monthly audits of entities with foreign shareholders or directors, with quarterly reports to the Land Department. Clear evidence of violations will result in strict legal prosecution against both companies and individuals involved.

Investigation Deepens into Unauthorized School Where Teacher Allegedly Seized Student's Phone and Demanded Ransom; Officials Warn of Legal Action Against Illegal Educational Facilities.

On May 16, 2569, Montol Phaksuwannakul, Secretary-General of the Private Education Commission (PEC), addressed the case of a 17-year-old student whose mobile phone was confiscated and held for ransom—a case currently trending on social media.

The Ministry of Education, led by Education Minister Prasert Chantharavung, expressed concern about the incident and ordered the Private Education Commission (PEC) to conduct an urgent investigation.

The investigation revealed that the facility is not licensed to operate as a private school under the PEC and has no record of authorization as a learning center in the Basic Education Commission (BEC) database. However, if the investigation confirms the facility is operating as an unlicensed private educational institution without PEC approval, legal action will be taken.

Authorities emphasized that all forms of educational management must prioritize student safety, rights, and dignity. Parents are urged to verify a school's official status before enrolling their children. Anyone discovering potentially unlicensed educational facilities can report tips to the Education Ministry hotline at 1579 or via email at saraban@opec.go.th, the PEC Secretary-General concluded.

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