The Department of Provincial Administration has clarified the matter regarding “Je Ae” requesting a gun purchase license, affirming there was no order from the Prime Minister or any superior. It pointed out that making defamatory claims against anyone is illegal, punishable by imprisonment and fines.
On 15 March 2026, the Department of Provincial Administration issued a statement clarifying the facts about the gun purchase license (Form Por. 3) requested by influencer “Je Ae” and her family.
Following reports on online media and television programs on 14 March 2026, about “Je Ae” claiming that her son, a shooting athlete, was denied a gun purchase license (Form Por. 3) by the registrar of Mueang Saraburi district, leading to a call made to the Prime Minister to expedite the process within two hours.
The Department of Provincial Administration wishes to clarify the facts based on information from Mueang Saraburi district as follows:
– Regarding the first application (October 2023), Je Ae and her husband met officials to request a gun purchase license (Form Por. 3) under her husband's name, stating the purpose was for sports.
However, upon investigation, it was found that Je Ae’s husband already possessed one firearm and did not provide certification of being an athlete or a member of a shooting range. Officials therefore informed them of the relevant legal regulations, which the applicants acknowledged before leaving.
– Regarding the second application (10 September 2024), Je Ae’s husband submitted a request again for a gun purchase license (Form Por. 3) to transfer a firearm from Mueang Khon Kaen district, Khon Kaen province. This time, he provided full certification of being an athlete or shooting range member.
The registrar then considered and issued the license following normal legal procedures. Investigation found no record of Je Ae’s son applying for a gun purchase license.
The Department of Provincial Administration confirms that the license issuance (Form Por. 3) in this case was carried out normally, using the discretion of the local registrar without any orders from superiors, strictly following the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearms Act B.E. 2490 (1947) and related regulations.
Moreover, caution is advised that making defamatory claims against any person to third parties, likely causing damage to reputation, contempt, or hatred, is punishable as defamation, with penalties up to one year imprisonment or a fine up to 20,000 baht, or both, according to Section 326.
If such defamation is committed by publication through documents, paintings, films, pictures, writings, phonographs, sound recordings, image or text recordings, broadcast, or other announcements, the offender faces penalties of up to two years imprisonment and a fine up to 200,000 baht under Section 328 of the Criminal Code.