DNA tests expose 24 more Chinese children with fake Thai fathers

DNA tests have identified 24 more Chinese-born children whose Thai birth certificates wrongfully list unrelated Thai men as their fathers.

They include infants, university students and working adults.

Police also announced they had obtained 46 more arrest warrants in connection with the scandal, and those named included government officials and hospital personnel.

The investigation identified the 24 children whose Thai birth registrations were being examined, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin Poolsawat, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said on Tuesday.

Eight hospitals were involved in those cases.

DNA samples from all 24 children were compared with those of the Thai men listed as their fathers on their birth certificates, their mothers and the men believed to actually be their biological fathers.

The results showed that none of the Thai men were biologically related to the children, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

A total of 46 arrest warrants had been approved for government officials, hospital staff, foreign mothers, Thai men acting as nominee fathers, the children’s biological foreign fathers, and others allegedly involved in the improper use of civil registration procedures.

- Three cases highlighted -

Pol Lt Gen Noppasin detailed three cases uncovered by the crackdown, vowing to identify recruiters, brokers, certifiers, government officials and the ultimate beneficiaries of the scheme.

One case involved 27-year-old Thaweesak, whose birth certificate listed Wanchai as his Thai father and Wunlee, a Chinese national, as his mother.

DNA tests revealed that his biological father was Chen Tonggen.

Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said the fraudulent registration had enabled Thaweesak to obtain Thai citizenship and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. He worked for an electrical cable company in Samut Prakan, earning about 30,000 baht a month.

Thaweesak and his Chinese parents were arrested at their family residence in Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian district.

Wanchai, the man listed as his Thai father, said he had been approached 27 years ago to register a marriage with Wunlee for business purposes and received 5,000 baht in return.

Another involved 23-year-old twins, Sutthipat and Sutthinai, whose birth certificates listed Komon as their Thai father and Hansamon as their Chinese mother.

DNA tests showed that Komon was not their biological father.

Investigators found that Sutthipat was a fifth-year medical student at a leading Thai university. He was arrested while undertaking clinical training at a hospital in Si Racha district in Chon Buri.

His brother, Sutthinai, graduated from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and works as a programmer, earning 50,000 baht a month. He was arrested at a condominium in the Krung Thon Buri area.

Komon is serving a prison sentence for drug-related offences and is scheduled for release on Aug 27, 2037, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

Their Chinese mother, Hansamon, formerly known as Su Jian, was arrested under the National Identity Card Act for certifying identity card applications for both sons.

Police were also investigating how Hansamon obtained Thai citizenship through marriage to a Thai national before divorcing him after receiving citizenship, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

The third case involved two boys, aged three and seven, who share the same mother, Yanfang, but have different men listed as their fathers on their birth certificates.

The elder boy’s certificate named Somkiat as his Thai father, but DNA tests identified Zhang Renqi as his biological father.

Somkiat, a motorcycle taxi driver, admitted receiving 5,000 baht to register as the boy’s father, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

The younger boy’s birth certificate listed Yingbao, who owns a machine manufacturing business and nine other companies, as his father, police said.

Zhang Renqi was arrested while staying with the two children at a residence in Samut Prakan registered as the address of Mingyang International Co Ltd.

The Chinese mother was listed as a shareholder in the company, and authorities were investigating its suspected nominee structure, Pol Lt Gen Noppasin said.

He said all 24 children would undergo legal reviews to verify and correct their civil registration records. If authorities determine that Thai citizenship was obtained unlawfully, the relevant documents and legal status could be revoked in accordance with the law.

Authorities said any action would take the children’s rights and best interests into account.

The crackdown has entered its third phase. The first phase involved three children and six people accused of helping Chinese families obtain Thai citizenship. The second uncovered 22 more children and led to the arrest of 36 suspects.