Cyber police from Investigation Unit 4, Division 2, conducted advanced technical tracing and arrested a former manager who hacked and destroyed the computer data system of a major well-known department store, causing business damages exceeding 10 million baht.
On 9 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphol Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Police Bureau, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Tiprak, Commander assigned at the Office of the Commissioner-General, Cyber Police Bureau, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Sarayut Chunnawat, Commander of Division 2, ordered Pol. Col. Tosak Panklinphut, Chief of Investigation Unit 4, Division 2, Pol. Lt. Col. Jirawat Buringam, Deputy Chief, Pol. Lt. Col. Ekarin Sannak, Deputy Chief, Pol. Lt. Col. Supawat Prajit, Investigator, and Pol. Sub Lt. Watcharakorn Kambung, Deputy Investigator of Unit 4, Division 2, to act.
They led the investigation team from Unit 4, Division 2, Cyber Police Bureau, and cyber support staff from the Cyber Operations Center with a search warrant No. 230/2569 to search a house in the Charansanitwong area and arrested Mr. Somjet, former senior network manager of a well-known department store, under arrest warrant No. 1981/2569, seizing two laptops, one iPad, and one mobile phone as evidence.
This arrest followed a complaint in January 2025 GMT+7 from representatives of a major department store in Nonthaburi, reporting to cyber police that an intruder hacked and sabotaged the store’s computer data system, causing the screen to go black and the system to become unusable, displaying the message “CIO Get Out,” referring to the chief information officer.
After detecting abnormalities, the store’s technology department inspected the information systems and networks. The system targeted was used by staff for business operations and for services to trade partners and suppliers. Customer service systems remained operational and unaffected.
Subsequently, the store’s IT administrators changed the Administrator password to regain control and restore the system. The disruption lasted over 12 hours and caused business damages exceeding 10 million baht.
Investigation Unit 4, Division 2, conducted advanced technical tracing and identified the hacker as Mr. Somjet Maksomboon, the former senior network manager of the same department store that reported the crime.
Mr. Somjet had been dismissed from his position prior to the incident. Authorities gathered evidence, obtained arrest and search warrants from the Criminal Court, and arrested him with the seized items.
During interrogation, Mr. Somjet admitted to hacking the store’s information technology system out of dissatisfaction with management. He claimed his intent was merely to cause mischief and did not anticipate the extensive damages exceeding tens of millions of baht.
Police charged him with unauthorized access to another’s computer system protected by specific security measures, unauthorized access to computer data protected similarly, and causing damage by destroying, altering, or adding to computer data without permission.