A former police captain was arrested with a fake red-plate Toyota Camry whose hood was still warm; the battery terminals had been removed to cut power as the car was being prepared for parts dismantling. The suspect claimed he had pawned the car for 350,000 baht at a warehouse on Sai 5 Road and said he did not know the car was stolen.
On 21 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Maj. Gen. Phornsak Laorujiralai, Commander of the Highway Police Division, ordered Pol. Col. Phakphol Suchon, Chief of Division 2, Highway Police Bureau, and Pol. Lt. Kritsada Puangpan, Inspector of Highway Police 6, Division 2, to lead forces to arrest former police captain Lt. Col. Thai (alias), 58, charged with "forgery of official documents or use of forged official documents and jointly committing theft or receiving stolen property."
The evidence seized included a gray Toyota Camry sedan and two fake red license plates found at a car repair shop in Village No. 4, Nong Bua Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province.
This followed a report on 18 Feb from Pracha Chuen Police Station that Mr. SEO, a South Korean national, had filed a complaint that a gray Toyota Camry sedan was stolen by an acquaintance, also Korean, from a Toyota center in the Pracha Chuen Police jurisdiction.
Subsequent investigation found evidence that the stolen car had been taken out of the area heading toward Kanchanaburi Province. Authorities quickly traced the escape route until they reached the said car repair shop, which specialized in dismantling vehicle parts.
Upon inspection, the car was found parked inside the repair yard, with Lt. Col. Thai presenting himself as the driver who had brought the car there. The hood was still warm, but the battery terminals had been removed to cut the electrical system. The car remained in good condition.
Checking the vehicle identification number confirmed it matched the reported stolen car, and it bore fake red license plates, prompting immediate arrest.
During interrogation, Lt. Col. Thai stated he bought the car from “Mr. Chart” (full name unknown) at a warehouse near Phutthamonthon Sai 5 Road in Nakhon Pathom Province. He claimed Mr. Chart had pawned the car from another South Korean. He used his own money, 350,000 baht, to redeem the car, but shortly after parking it at the repair shop, authorities discovered it.
He denied all allegations. Authorities then detained him and handed him over to investigators at Pracha Chuen Police Station for legal proceedings.