Buriram police tracked a temple festival organizer to Udon Thani and arrested a 38-year-old man who roamed around claiming to be a district officer. He extorted money from the temple abbot, fabricating a story that he was from the local administration and would send undercover security personnel to manage the event. The temple lost more than 50,000 baht. When no security personnel arrived, authorities were stunned to find fake license plates, military uniforms, district officer insignia, and many official emblems in his vehicle.
On 25 Jan 2026, reporters reported that around midnight on 24 Jan, Police Lieutenant Colonel Apiphoo Juprakhonsuk, deputy investigation chief of Phutthaisong Police Station, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanachon Duangputha, investigation officer, led a warrant from Buriram Provincial Court No. 32/2569 charging "fraud by impersonation" to arrest Krisanachai or Kong Kunsawang, 38, from Amnat Charoen Province, at a Mor Lam folk performance at a temple in Udon Thani.
Earlier, Pol. Maj. Gen. Warayut Janthayiem, commander of Buriram Provincial Police, ordered Pol. Col. Adisorn Suwanrak, deputy chief of Buriram Police, and Pol. Col. Nopadol Thuntaweesilsak, chief of Phutthaisong Police Station, Phutthaisong District, Buriram, to expedite tracking the suspect who defrauded the abbot and village headman of Ban Non Sombun, Moo 4, Hai Sok Subdistrict, Phutthaisong District, Buriram, causing losses over 51,000 baht, and bring him to justice.
On 9 Jan 2026 at about 13:00, the suspect approached the abbot of Non Sombun Temple claiming to be a scholar of the eighth-level Buddhist scripture. He befriended the abbot and expressed a desire to donate for a ritual, including 10 rattan-cutting knives priced at 2,500 baht each, totaling 25,000 baht.
Later, Kong visited the village headman, claiming to be a provincial defense district officer. He tricked the temple committee into obtaining 10 rattan-cutting knives from the village headman at 2,500 baht each and swindled 10 sets of souvenirs at 600 baht each, totaling 6,000 baht. All these items Kong sold to locals who came to make donations.
He also deceived the committee into paying wages for seven undercover soldiers assigned to provide security at the folk performance at the temple, amounting to 7,500 baht. Additionally, he took 10,772 baht collected as donations by the Mor Lam troupe from spectators. The total damage was 51,172 baht before Kong disappeared.
When authorities searched Kong's private vehicle, they found seven additional fake license plates bought from a second-hand shop, aside from two already attached to the car. A thorough inspection revealed military uniforms, undercover soldier uniforms, Department of Provincial Administration shirts embroidered with the name "Arthit Konthong, District Officer," hats, radios, BB guns, and numerous official emblems.
Today, Phutthaisong Police brought Kong to reenact the crime scene to support his confession about defrauding the temple abbot and villagers. Many village committee members and locals came to see him. Records also showed he had committed similar offenses in several other areas.
Kong confessed to the fraud, stating he had no legitimate job and used the money for personal expenses. He claimed the BB gun was carried solely to complete the official appearance he was impersonating.