Thai and Malaysian authorities jointly launched an operation to dismantle the "MYIPTV4K" network involved in unauthorized distribution of movies and entertainment programs in Chiang Mai, arresting one suspect and seizing a large amount of evidence. The suspect initially denies the charges.
On 28 May 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Nathsak Chawanasai, Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Tatsapoom Jaruprat, Commander of the Economic Crime Division, Pol. Col. Phuwadej Julkasavee, Superintendent of Division 1, and Pol. Lt. Col. Nattawut Pomngern, Operations Officer of Division 1, together with officials from the Department of Intellectual Property and representatives from Warner Brothers Entertainment, to arrest Mr. Akarawat (surname withheld) on charges of "jointly infringing the copyright of others for commercial purposes by reproducing, modifying, and publicly distributing motion pictures without permission." The arrest took place at a house in Mae Hia Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province.
They subsequently searched a company in Suthep Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Mai, seizing evidence including 19 accounting documents, 4 payment records to platform service providers, 22 documents related to email correspondence, one copy of a credit card, three mobile phones, one laptop, and one desktop computer.
This operation follows the Economic Crime Division's participation in the "Awan Merah" coordination meeting at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore, where discussions focused on combating the MyIPTV4K online piracy website, which infringed copyrights of numerous films and entertainment programs. The operation was conducted under the I-SOP (INTERPOL – Stop Online Piracy) project, involving INTERPOL and multiple international law enforcement agencies including the Royal Malaysia Police, South Korea National Police Agency (KNPA), South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), and the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), targeting transnational online copyright infringement and related cybercrime networks.
Following joint analysis of financial digital evidence, authorities obtained a search warrant from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court. They then coordinated a simultaneous cross-border operation with law enforcement agencies in Malaysia and Thailand, resulting in the arrest of Mr. Akarawat and seizure of the aforementioned evidence.
During interrogation, Mr. Akarawat denied all charges. However, records show he was previously arrested in 2018 for similar copyright infringement offenses. The seized evidence has been handed over to investigators of Division 1, Economic Crime Division, for further legal proceedings.
In Malaysia, authorities simultaneously conducted raids at three locations in Selangor state, seizing digital devices including computers, laptops, and mobile phones used to manage the application. They pressed charges against Leong Chin Wang and his wife, Hoo Sheau Lew, who serve as company directors providing web graphic design services, automated systems, security systems, and electrical and electronic products. Both denied allegations of conducting business activities selling access to the MYIPTV4K app via the popular e-commerce account "Unimax Pro."
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nathsak urged the public not to support websites that violate copyright laws, warning these sites may deceive users into paying subscription fees with limited viewing periods. He emphasized such piracy sites facilitate internet crimes and harm content creators and the industry by reducing incentives for producing new works. He noted that intellectual property infringement not only causes economic losses but also damages Thailand’s credibility with investors and affects the country’s trade and investment image in the long term.