Press "Enter" to skip to content

Jiranat “Noi” Charged Over 7.84M Baht Village Fund Fraud in Nakhon Pathom

Police from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) kicked off a high-stakes crackdown on village fund scams on August 19, making a dramatic arrest that reads more like a cautionary tale than a court filing. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Jiranat (also known as “Noi”) from Nakhon Pathom, was taken into custody under a Criminal Court warrant issued August 16. He now faces a string of serious charges: fraud, forgery and money laundering, all tied to an elaborate scheme that allegedly bilked village funds of nearly 8 million baht.

The case first surfaced when a victim filed a report on June 7, accusing Jiranat of posing as an insider with links to the well-known Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation. According to investigators, he promised villages help winning government and village fund projects—some of which were real, but many completely fabricated. Victims say he even pitched a non-existent military development road project and a bogus water tank donation scheme supposedly covering 72 provinces.

What makes the scam especially slippery: a mix of authentic-sounding paperwork, forged documents, and doctored photos. Prosecutors allege Jiranat used images showing him with high-profile figures to lend credibility to his stories, persuading victims to transfer money for supposed “facilitation fees” and project processing. Between 2023 and 2025, investigators say the transfers totaled 89 transactions amounting to 7,836,000 baht.

Not all projects were pure fiction. One legitimate program did exist, but it required villages to submit their own transparent proposals—something Jiranat reportedly neglected to tell his targets. In other cases, the promises were entirely invented. Once money flowed in, it allegedly vanished into personal purchases: a backhoe, cattle and other assets that had nothing to do with community development.

After building the case, CIB officers moved on August 18. During the arrest and search operations they seized a number of items that investigators say could help trace the money trail:

  • Luxury vehicles
  • Bankbooks and financial documents
  • Cash cards and mobile phones
  • Various documents and ledgers linked to the alleged transactions

Despite the mounting evidence, Jiranat denies all charges. Police stressed that the investigation is still active as they trace financial flows and seek to recover assets on behalf of victims. Officials also say they’re probing relatives who received funds, although no accomplices have been formally identified so far. Authorities suspect there may be other unreported victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

In a clear rebuke of the suspect’s alleged method, the Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation confirmed it had no connection with Jiranat. The foundation’s name, apparently used as a badge of legitimacy, was central to the deception.

Benjapol Nakprasert, director of the National Village and Urban Community Fund Office, weighed in with a practical warning. He said the office’s SML project requires villages to submit transparent, verifiable proposals—and that any intermediary claiming special access or influence should be treated with suspicion. “Do not hand over money to anyone claiming to be an intermediary,” Benjapol advised, pointing out that the proper channels are open and documented.

The CIB and local police asked the public to report anyone falsely claiming high-level government or political connections—especially those promising shortcuts to national village fund projects. Reports can be filed with the Central Investigation Bureau or the nearest police station. Media outlet KhaoSod provided preliminary coverage and is credited for the photograph accompanying initial reports.

This case is an object lesson in how modern scams mix old tricks with new polish: forged paperwork, charismatic storytelling, and an appearance of prestige. For small communities and village funds that rely on limited resources, the damage is more than financial—it erodes trust. Authorities emphasize that legitimate projects have clear application steps and public records; anyone promising guaranteed wins or backdoor access should raise red flags.

As the investigation continues, police aim to map every baht and asset tied to the alleged scheme and to return as much as possible to the victims. If you or your village were approached with unsolicited offers involving village fund projects, or you recognize the name or methods described in this case, contact the CIB or your local police station immediately. Transparency, documentation and a dash of skepticism remain the best defenses against schemes that sound too good to be true.

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod.

38 Comments

  1. Joe August 19, 2025

    This reads like a movie plot, but it devastated real villages—how is someone allowed to pretend to be an insider for so long?

    • Sopida August 19, 2025

      Because small communities trust people who show photos with VIPs; that social proof is powerful even when it’s fake.

      • Larry D August 19, 2025

        Social proof only works when institutions are weak. We need stronger verification processes, not just finger-pointing at gullible villagers.

        • Joe August 19, 2025

          Agreed—verification and transparency. But there should also be fast legal remedies so victims get money back before scammers cash out.

          • grower134 August 19, 2025

            Fast legal remedies sound nice but courts move slow and assets get hidden. Maybe freeze accounts immediately on complaint?

          • Sopida August 19, 2025

            Freezing might help, but only if police have probable cause and tech to trace transfers quickly.

          • Joe August 19, 2025

            This is why the CIB needs more tech and interbank cooperation; otherwise asset recovery is a fantasy.

  2. Nina August 19, 2025

    This is so sad. People trusted someone and lost almost 8 million baht.

    • 6thgrader August 19, 2025

      Why did they send money? Couldn’t they just call the foundation?

      • Dr. Anan August 19, 2025

        They probably could have, but intermediaries often promise speed and ‘connections’, which is tempting when funds and timelines are tight.

  3. Kasem August 19, 2025

    Sounds like organized fraud, not just one scammer. Relatives receiving funds is a red flag for a network.

    • Mai August 19, 2025

      I thought the article said no accomplices identified yet, but police are probing relatives—hope they follow the money.

      • Kasem August 19, 2025

        Exactly—follow the bankbooks and phone records. That should reveal patterns if it’s a ring.

      • krit August 19, 2025

        Or it reveals that the system itself made villagers vulnerable. Finger-pointing at families misses systemic failures.

    • grower134 August 19, 2025

      Systemic failure yes, but individual accountability still matters. If you steal 7.8M you go to jail.

  4. Larry Davis August 19, 2025

    The mention of doctored photos with VIPs makes me wonder about media literacy in rural areas.

    • Somsri August 19, 2025

      Media literacy classes would help, but so would accessible, official hotlines for verifying claims.

      • Larry Davis August 19, 2025

        Hotlines are good, but they need to be well-publicized and not buried in bureaucracy.

  5. Dr. Anan August 19, 2025

    From a forensic accounting view, 89 transactions over two years is a classic dispersion method to obscure trails.

    • PoliceWatch August 19, 2025

      That’s why law enforcement should prioritize clustering analysis of accounts; it’s not rocket science but requires resources.

      • Dr. Anan August 19, 2025

        True, and public prosecutors need training to present digital evidence persuasively in court.

  6. P’Ken August 19, 2025

    I hope victims get their money back. Backhoe and cattle are not village projects, so those assets should be seized immediately.

    • ConcernedVoter August 19, 2025

      Seizure is one thing, recovery is another. Selling seized assets often yields pennies on the original value.

  7. krit August 19, 2025

    We should also ask why foundations’ names are so easily dragged into scams. Reputation management matters.

    • BNOffice August 19, 2025

      As someone who watches fund programs, unauthorized use of a foundation’s name is sadly common; public notice boards and official registries help but are underused.

  8. Somsri August 19, 2025

    This makes me distrust anyone who promises quick funding. Transparency should be required at every step.

    • Mai August 19, 2025

      Transparency plus public proposal postings so villages can verify who is on the list, not just whisper campaigns.

  9. grower134 August 19, 2025

    People love shortcuts. Scammers sell hope and hustle; education is part of the cure.

    • 6thgrader August 19, 2025

      But education takes time. If my village needs a road now, what then?

      • grower134 August 19, 2025

        Then use official channels and don’t pay anyone upfront for ‘facilitation’—that’s the quick rule.

  10. PoliceWatch August 19, 2025

    I worry about the balance between rapid action and due process. Arrests must be solid or the public loses faith in policing.

    • ConcernedVoter August 19, 2025

      Due process is essential, but so is convincing victims the state takes white-collar crime seriously. Too many cases vanish in paperwork.

      • PoliceWatch August 19, 2025

        Then improve case management and transparency of investigations; both sides of that coin are fixable.

  11. Poom August 19, 2025

    Why isn’t there mandatory verification for anyone collecting facilitation fees? Seems like a simple law could close this loop.

    • Sopida August 19, 2025

      Simple laws exist but enforcement is the problem. You need political will and budget to back them up.

  12. User99 August 19, 2025

    Some will say villagers were naive, but desperation makes people take risks. Blame the scammer, not the victims.

    • Larry D August 19, 2025

      Not excusing the scammer, but we still must teach accountability—local leaders should vet offers before money changes hands.

      • User99 August 19, 2025

        Sure, local vetting helps, but if local leaders themselves are targetted or complicit we need outside oversight.

Leave a Reply to BNOffice Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More from ThailandMore posts in Thailand »