Monk arrested for Romance Scam mule accounts

MGR Online•Society•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The Crime Suppression Division arrested a 65-year-old monk for providing mule accounts used in a Romance Scam that defrauded a victim of over 200,000 Baht.

•Phra Suriya (Mr. Suriya), age 65, was arrested at a temple in Chatuchak, Bangkok.
•The suspect provided two bank accounts to a man named Bom in exchange for 300 Baht and one meal in 2023.
•The accounts were used by a Romance Scam gang posing as a foreign singer to defraud a victim of over 200,000 Baht in 2024.
•The arrest was conducted based on a Criminal Court warrant dated May 7, 2026.

Overview

•In 2024, a victim was contacted via Telegram by scammers posing as a foreign singer who used a Romance Scam to steal over 200,000 Baht.
•The victim reported the fraud to Bueng Kum Police Station, identifying a bank account belonging to Mr. Suriya.
•Mr. Suriya claimed that in 2023, while living in the Hua Lamphong area, a man named Bom persuaded him to open two bank accounts for 300 Baht and one meal.
•Mr. Suriya opened the accounts at a bank in a shopping mall near Sam Yan and handed them over to Bom.
•Mr. Suriya later entered the monkhood for approximately 3 years before his arrest.
•Pol. Maj. Gen. Phatthanasak Bubphasuwan ordered the arrest of Phra Suriya at a temple in Chatuchak, Bangkok.
•Phra Suriya was forced to leave the monkhood before being transferred to Bueng Kum Police Station for legal proceedings.

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Key Entities

Person

Phra Suriya(พระสุริยา)

A 65-year-old monk (formerly Mr. Suriya) arrested for providing mule accounts to a scam gang.

Mr. Suriya(นายสุริยา)

The secular identity of Phra Suriya who opened bank accounts for a man named Bom.

Bom(บอม)

A man who persuaded Mr. Suriya to open bank accounts in exchange for money and food.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Phatthanasak Bubphasuwan(พล.ต.ต.พัฒนศักดิ์ บุบผาสุวรรณ)

The Commander of the Crime Suppression Division who ordered the arrest.

Pol. Col. Jetniphat Siriwat(พ.ต.อ.เจตนิพัทธ์ ศิริวัฒน์)

The Superintendent of Subdivision 1, Crime Suppression Division.

Pol. Lt. Col. Naphachalan Koed-iam(พ.ต.ท.นภชลัน เกิดเอี่ยม)

An Inspector of Subdivision 1, Crime Suppression Division.

Organization

Crime Suppression Division(กองปราบ)ℹ️

The police unit responsible for arresting the suspect.

Bueng Kum Police Station(สน.บึงกุ่ม)

The police station where the victim reported the crime and where the suspect was sent for processing.

Criminal Court(ศาลอาญา)

The court that issued the arrest warrant for Phra Suriya.

Place

Chatuchak District(เขตจตุจักร)ℹ️

The area in Bangkok where the suspect was arrested at a temple.

Hua Lamphong(หัวลำโพง)ℹ️

The area where Mr. Suriya lived and worked in 2023.

Sam Yan(สามย่าน)ℹ️

The area where the bank used to open the mule accounts is located.