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Loei Hospital Employee Nabbed for Stealing Ventilators, Claims Financial Distress

Loei Hospital Employee Nabbed for Stealing Ventilators, Claims Financial Distress

Thairath•Society•25d ago

Reader Briefing

A Loei Hospital employee has been arrested for stealing medical equipment, specifically ventilators, and selling them on the black market to address financial difficulties.

  • •A Loei Hospital employee was apprehended for stealing and selling 35 medical items, including ventilators, valued at millions of baht.
  • •The suspect confessed to acting alone due to a lack of funds and is being interrogated for further leads.
  • •Some stolen items have been recovered, and individuals who purchased the equipment are voluntarily returning them.

Overview

  • •Police from Mueang Loei Police Station arrested a Loei Hospital employee.
  • •The employee stole medical equipment, including ventilators, and sold them on the black market, citing a lack of money as the motive.
  • •On March 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM, villagers reported finding discarded metal legs from stolen equipment.
  • •A total of 35 medical items were stolen, with 19 units initially recovered, and later 21 units recovered from discarded locations before two additional units were returned by individuals from Bangkok.
  • •Some individuals who purchased the stolen ventilators are voluntarily returning them to the hospital and police.
  • •The recovered equipment was found discarded in rivers and streams, with some parts found near Ban Laeng Khwai School.
  • •The suspect, identified as Chinnawat Chattraraksa, was arrested at his residence in Phu Kradueng District, Loei Province.
  • •Police are investigating potential accomplices and individuals who purchased the stolen medical equipment.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Chinnawat Chattraraksa
"I did it alone because I had no money to use."
กระทำคนเดียว สาเหตุเพราะไม่มีเงินใช้

Key Entities

Organization

Loei Hospital(รพ.เลย)
The organization from which medical equipment was stolen.
Mueang Loei Police Station(สภ.เมืองเลย)
The police station that investigated and arrested the suspect.
Loei Provincial Court(ศาลจังหวัดเลย)
The court that issued the arrest warrant for the suspect.
Ban Laeng Khwai School(โรงเรียนบ้านแหล่งควาย)
A landmark near where discarded stolen equipment was found.

Person

Chinnawat Chattraraksa(นายชินวัฒน์ ฉัตรรักษา)
The Loei Hospital employee arrested for stealing medical equipment.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Veeradet Lekhavaragul(พล.ต.ต.วีระเดช เลขะวรกุล)
The Commander of Loei Provincial Police who provided updates on the case.
Pol. Col. Worachai Bangyikhan(พ.ต.อ.วรชัย บางยี่ขัน)
The Chief of Mueang Loei Police Station involved in the investigation.
Pol. Col. Atsadin Chaknowan(พ.ต.อ.อัษดิน จักรโนวัน)
The Chief of Investigation of Loei Provincial Police involved in the investigation.

Place

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️
A location where some of the stolen equipment was reportedly sold and from where individuals returned items.
Khon Kaen Province(จ.ขอนแก่น)ℹ️
A province where some of the stolen equipment was reportedly sold.
Huai Som Subdistrict, Phu Kradueng District, Loei Province(ต.ห้วยส้ม อ.ภูกระดึง จ.เลย)
The location of the suspect's residence where he was arrested.
Na An Subdistrict, Mueang Loei District(ต.นาอาน อ.เมืองเลย)
The location near where discarded stolen equipment was found.