A 33-year-old man reported to police that he was robbed when a criminal snatched his bag. Concerned, the Buriram City Police Chief personally came to examine the case and arranged a reenactment. However, the testimony did not align with the facts. Upon further questioning, the man confessed to fabricating the story to seek revenge and have a village rival, with whom he had disputes, suspected or arrested. The police charged him with filing a false report, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine up to 60,000 baht.
On 18 June 2026, Mr. Kitisak Fakthong, a 33-year-old crematorium builder from Village No. 7, Khok Lek Subdistrict, Huai Rat District, Buriram Province, filed a complaint at Buriram City Police Station. He claimed that a suspect on a motorcycle approached and snatched his shoulder bag, which contained his phone, ID card, and some cash. The incident occurred near Non Sai Buddhist Sanctuary on the Ban Yang–Ban Ngang road in Ban Yang Subdistrict, Mueang Buriram District.
This case was given special attention by Police Colonel Jamrat Siriliang, Buriram City Police Chief, because it caused distress to the public, especially during the current economic downturn.
Later, investigators interviewed Mr. Kitisak, the victim, before Police Colonel Jamrat Siriliang personally visited the scene to reenact the entire incident from before it happened. During the reenactment, inconsistencies between Kitisak’s account and the realistic possibility of the bag being snatched became apparent. Police then pressed Kitisak with the question, “Why did you lie?”
Eventually, during the reenactment, Kitisak admitted, “I lied.” He explained that three days earlier, he had a conflict with someone in the village but could not find a way to get revenge. So, he fabricated the story to make police suspicious of his rival, hoping they would summon or arrest that person for robbery. He did not expect the matter to escalate to the point of a reenactment. “I apologize to the entire investigative team. I will not do this again.”
Police Colonel Jamrat Siriliang, Buriram City Police Chief, stated that the police work diligently on all cases that cause distress to the public. Even if the losses are not large, the police take them seriously. He also warned the public not to fabricate stories that unnecessarily increase the workload of officers who are already busy.
If the police are misled, as in this case, they must take legal action. The suspect faces preliminary charges of “filing a false report of a criminal offense to an officer by reporting a crime that did not actually occur,” which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both. The police will proceed with legal measures accordingly.
