Who runs Godd Dam?! Thai cyber police seek another arrest warrant after their first application is withdrawn. A forged ฿7 million ‘tea money’ slip targets PM Anutin, as police probe political sharers and a separate royal defamation complaint deepens.
Thai cybercrime police are making a second bid to arrest the suspected operator of the ‘Godd Dam’ Facebook page on Thursday after their first warrant application failed. The case centres on a forged ฿7 million bank transfer falsely implicating Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. However, the suspect’s identity is disputed, despite reports naming a 26-year-old former Move Forward Party member. Meanwhile, Kasikornbank has exposed the fake payment, police are investigating politicians who shared it, and Anutin is threatening legal action. A separate royal defamation investigation has intensified the scandal. The controversy has also sparked accusations of selective enforcement, with critics questioning why police pursued Godd Dam faster than illegal gambling websites.
Thai cybercrime police are preparing a fresh arrest warrant application against the suspected administrator of the Facebook page Godd Dam. The move follows the publication of a fabricated ฿7 million bank transfer slip targeting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
However, a dispute has emerged over who actually controls the page. A 26-year-old former Move Forward Party member has been publicly identified, but a government minister disputes the identification. Meanwhile, police are investigating politicians who circulated the document. A separate royal defamation complaint has also opened another criminal investigation involving the page, which has 130,000 followers.
The investigation took another turn on Wednesday, 28 October, as cybercrime police prepared to return to the Criminal Court. Their first application for an arrest warrant had been withdrawn after judicial consideration. Investigators are gathering further evidence before making another attempt to secure the suspected administrator’s arrest.
Cyber police prepare fresh arrest warrant as Kasikornbank exposes fabricated ฿7 million payment slip
Police Major General Prasong Chalermphan, commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1, confirmed the planned application. Investigators initially approached the court on Tuesday, 27 October. However, after the court examined their evidence, officers withdrew the application for further work. They subsequently prepared to submit another request on Wednesday.
The proposed charge concerns introducing false information into a computer system under Thailand’s Computer Crime Act. In parallel, investigators are examining the wider circulation of the fabricated bank document. The inquiry could therefore extend beyond whoever originally published the Facebook post.
The controversy centres on a document purporting to show a ฿7 million transfer to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The purported payment was described as “tea money”, suggesting an improper financial arrangement. Yet Kasikornbank subsequently established that the document was fabricated. The bank confirmed that neither the purported account nor the transaction existed in its records.
Further checks revealed another discrepancy. According to Thai PBS, the bank’s K PLUS system imposed a daily transfer limit of ฿5 million. The purported ฿7 million transaction therefore exceeded that limit. Police subsequently obtained bank evidence as part of their criminal investigation.
Police pursue false bank transfer case as dispute grows over the identity of Godd Dam administrator
The findings prompted proceedings under Section 14 of the Computer Crime Act. Investigators are examining how the document appeared online and who was responsible for publishing it. They are also reviewing its distribution through social media, including posts shared by politicians.
Godd Dam had already established a substantial audience before the investigation began. According to police information, the Facebook page was created on 13 December 2022. It subsequently attracted approximately 130,000 followers. The account is now the subject of two separate criminal investigations concerning different publications.
Police Lieutenant General Thinnakorn Rangmat, Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, confirmed developments on Wednesday. He outlined the continuing effort to obtain an arrest warrant. However, police had not announced the court’s approval of the renewed application. Nor had they announced the arrest of the suspected administrator.
The legal proceedings have been complicated by uncertainty surrounding the page’s ownership. On Monday, 26 October, Thai PBS reported that authorities had identified a 26-year-old man named Chairat. The report linked him to Chum Saeng district in Nakhon Sawan province and Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. It also described him as a former member of the now-disbanded Move Forward Party.
Chairat reportedly graduated with a degree in business computing from a university in northern Thailand. His identification quickly became another element of the controversy. However, Deputy Digital Economy and Society Minister Boonthida Somchai subsequently challenged the certainty of the reports.
Deputy minister disputes identification of suspect as police seek IP evidence from Facebook platform
Speaking at Bhumjaithai Party headquarters on 26 October, Boonthida addressed the identification of the suspected administrator. She said the name circulating online had originated with social-media investigators. Crucially, she maintained that authorities had not independently confirmed the young man’s responsibility for operating Godd Dam.
Instead, investigators were seeking technical information from the social-media platform. This included IP addresses associated with the Facebook account. Boonthida said police should establish the administrator’s identity through their own investigation. She rejected reliance on claims circulating among online commentators.
The deputy minister explained that her ministry had coordinated with the Ministry of Justice and technology crime investigators. Her ministry had gathered preliminary information. However, she said the police unit investigating technology offences held the authority to request information from the platform.
Boonthida also called for investigators to announce the administrator’s identity once it had been formally established. She stressed that the individual named online had been identified by social-media users rather than confirmed through official procedures.
Her intervention followed reports identifying Chairat as the suspected operator. Nevertheless, police had not publicly disclosed technical evidence linking him to the fabricated transfer. Investigators still needed to establish who controlled the account when the disputed material appeared.
Withdrawn warrant application deepens scrutiny as suspect’s aunt speaks and royal complaint emerges
The uncertainty gained further attention following the withdrawal of the initial arrest warrant application. Police had sought judicial approval on Tuesday before gathering additional evidence. Subsequently, officers prepared another application for Wednesday. The authorities did not specify which evidence required further examination.
On another front, Thai media reported comments from a relative of the young man on Tuesday, 27 October. Reports by Siam News and Mumkhao referred to statements from his aunt. She reportedly discussed the controversy surrounding her nephew and his reported connection to Godd Dam.
However, those accounts did not establish whether the relative confirmed or denied his involvement. Neither did they establish that Chairat personally uploaded the fabricated bank transfer slip. Accordingly, the reports did not settle the dispute over the administrator’s identity.
The ownership controversy is unfolding alongside a separate investigation concerning posts about Thailand’s monarchy. On Monday, 26 October, Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaen Chaisaeng filed a complaint at Bang Khen Police Station. He serves as a deputy superintendent in the Special Branch Bureau.
Special Branch pursues royal defamation complaint separately from cybercrime case over forged transfer
The complaint concerned earlier material published by Godd Dam. Police claimed the posts contained false or distorted information about the monarchy. As a result, investigators are examining possible offences under Section 112 of the Criminal Code. That investigation is separate from the fabricated ฿7 million transfer case.
Senior police officers confirmed the distinction during a briefing on Tuesday, 27 October. Royal Thai Police Commissioner General Police General Samran Nuanma addressed reporters at Metropolitan Police Investigation Division 8. He appeared alongside Police Major General Siriwat Deepo, Deputy Inspector General and Royal Thai Police spokesperson.
Police General Samran confirmed that two separate case files were being handled. The Bang Khen investigation concerns the Section 112 complaint. By contrast, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau is responsible for the fabricated payment document. Both investigations concern the same Facebook page but involve different publications.
The police chief said he was overseeing developments in the royal defamation investigation. However, responsibility for the case remained with the Bangkok Metropolitan Police. The cybercrime proceedings would continue separately through the relevant investigating officers.
Police Major General Siriwat provided further details about the forged transfer slip. Following the Facebook publication, senior officers met the cybercrime police commander. A dedicated investigation team was then established to examine the document and determine whether offences had occurred.
Police confirm forged transfer and deny arrest reports as investigators examine Godd Dam account owner
Investigators subsequently established that the purported bank transfer was false. Kasikornbank confirmed that the ฿7 million transaction had not taken place. In response, police proceeded with a complaint under Section 14 of the Computer Crime Act.
Police Major General Siriwat confirmed that Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau Division 4 had filed the complaint. Officers were continuing to collect evidence before pursuing summonses or arrest warrants. The police spokesperson said investigators would follow the necessary legal procedures.
Earlier, on Monday, cybercrime police had explicitly denied reports that the suspected administrator had already been arrested. Police Major General Siriwat rejected claims that anyone had been detained and transferred to Bang Khen Police Station. He confirmed that no suspect had been taken into custody or summoned for special questioning.
Police Lieutenant General Thinnakorn also addressed the identification of the suspected administrator. He said investigators believed one individual controlled the page rather than a group. Nevertheless, police still needed to verify the account holder’s identity and examine the publications individually.
The commissioner explained that officers were reviewing earlier posts to determine whether additional offences had occurred. He also confirmed cooperation with the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and security agencies. Investigators were examining the evidence before deciding which charges could be pursued.
Anutin dismisses fabricated ฿7 million payment and reserves right to sue politicians who shared post
Meanwhile, the controversy reached Government House, where Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed reporters on Monday afternoon. Speaking at 4.05 pm, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior dismissed the claims surrounding the fabricated payment.
“People don’t take untrue news seriously,” Anutin told reporters. He said mature individuals capable of distinguishing truth from falsehood would not pay attention to such reports. Furthermore, he suggested that the document attracted attention from people deliberately endorsing or circulating it.
“See? Nobody cares, except for those with malicious intent who like and share,” he said. The Prime Minister nevertheless made clear that he reserved the right to take legal action. He said he could pursue proceedings to protect his rights and reputation.
Reporters then questioned whether politicians who shared the fabricated document could face personal legal action. Anutin confirmed that pursuing such proceedings remained his right. However, he stopped short of announcing an immediate lawsuit against any named politician.
When pressed about his intentions, the Prime Minister referred to his regular legal advisers. He said he had lawyers available to handle such matters. No immediate personal proceedings were announced during the exchange.
Cybercrime police examine politicians who circulated false bank slip and weigh possible prosecutions
The question of further prosecutions is already being examined by cybercrime investigators. Police Lieutenant General Thinnakorn confirmed that officers were reviewing individuals who redistributed the original Facebook post. He warned that sharing false information could expose those responsible to criminal proceedings.
Importantly, investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding individual posts and their distribution. The police commissioner said offences would be considered separately where the evidence justified prosecution. Consequently, the investigation covers more than the original publication.
Officers are examining whether individuals knowingly circulated the fabricated document. However, police have not established that everyone who shared the post committed an offence. Nor have investigators confirmed charges against all politicians who redistributed the claims.
Deputy Minister Boonthida also addressed the possible prosecution of politicians. She said investigators would need to consider their intentions when deciding whether legal action was justified. In particular, she criticised public figures who circulated the document without first checking its authenticity.
Boonthida noted that some politicians had previously promoted campaigns encouraging people to check information before sharing it. Yet she accused them of disregarding that principle when the controversy involved the Prime Minister. She said their positions carried responsibilities because their actions could influence public opinion.
Sirichok challenges speed of Godd Dam investigation as Anutin denies ordering police to take action
The police response has also triggered a dispute over the speed of the investigation. Former Democrat Party MP Sirichok Sopha questioned why authorities appeared to be moving so quickly against Godd Dam. He compared their response with police efforts against illegal online gambling websites.
Sirichok suggested that the authorities were acting faster against the Facebook page than against gambling operations. His remarks subsequently prompted questions to Anutin about whether the investigation had received special attention.
The Prime Minister rejected suggestions that he had directed the police response. Instead, he told reporters to address questions about the investigation to the National Police Chief. He maintained that he had issued no instructions concerning the case.
Anutin also said he had learned about developments through reports from journalists. He denied personally directing the investigation or ordering action against the Facebook page.
The exchange became sharper when reporters raised Sirichok’s criticism directly. “Do I need to answer that?” Anutin replied. He then walked into the Government House building, ending the exchange.
Deputy minister rebuts gambling comparison as cybercrime chief defends police investigation procedures
Deputy Digital Economy and Society Minister Boonthida Somchai separately rejected Sirichok’s comparison. She maintained that police had already taken action against illegal online gambling operations. According to the deputy minister, authorities had closed several gambling websites.
Boonthida challenged suggestions that those gambling websites remained freely accessible. She questioned how critics were reaching the websites they cited. Furthermore, she maintained that several sites could no longer be accessed through ordinary mobile telephone connections.
Her comments came as cybercrime investigators continued examining the distribution of the fabricated bank document. The authorities were also pursuing technical evidence to identify the original publisher.
Police Lieutenant General Thinnakorn separately defended the speed of the investigation. Speaking on Monday, he said the allegations affected several aspects of national administration. Accordingly, he maintained that police were obliged to respond promptly while following established procedures.
The commissioner rejected suggestions that the investigation was being handled outside normal police processes. He said officers were acting on the evidence and examining the facts before proceeding against individuals.
Police distinguish independent cybercrime prosecution from any personal complaint by Prime Minister
At that stage, Anutin had not appointed anyone to act on his behalf in the police investigation. The commissioner explained that the Prime Minister could decide whether to submit a personal complaint. However, police could pursue certain offences independently where the law permitted.
Police Major General Siriwat also distinguished between offences requiring a personal complaint and those prosecuted by the authorities. He explained that some Computer Crime Act offences could be pursued without a complaint from the person concerned.
The investigation has consequently developed along several separate lines. Cybercrime officers are pursuing the original publication of the fabricated payment slip. They are also seeking to establish who controlled Godd Dam when the document appeared.
Beyond that, investigators are reviewing the conduct of individuals who subsequently circulated the material. The separate Section 112 complaint remains under the responsibility of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police.
The distinction between the investigations was reinforced by Police General Samran’s statement on Tuesday. He confirmed that the royal defamation complaint and the cybercrime proceedings would remain separate. Both concern the same Facebook account, although the complaints address different publications.
Anutin reserves right to sue as police pursue account ownership evidence and renewed arrest warrant
Anutin’s possible personal lawsuit introduces another legal dimension. The Prime Minister has reserved his right to sue over the fabricated allegations. Nevertheless, he has not announced immediate proceedings against a named politician.
The central cybercrime case remains focused on the forged bank document. Kasikornbank has established that the purported ฿7 million payment never occurred. Police have also confirmed the criminal complaint under Section 14 of the Computer Crime Act.
Yet the identity of the person responsible for publishing the document remains disputed. Chairat was publicly identified in reports on 26 October. However, Deputy Minister Boonthida subsequently said authorities had not independently confirmed his control of the page.
Investigators were therefore seeking technical information from the social-media platform, including IP addresses. Police have not announced that the information establishes the named suspect’s responsibility for the post.
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The first arrest warrant application was withdrawn following judicial consideration on Tuesday. Police Major General Prasong Chalermphan subsequently confirmed plans to submit a renewed application on Wednesday, 28 October.
Meanwhile, the Section 112 investigation continues through Bang Khen Police Station. Cybercrime investigators are separately examining the circulation of the fabricated bank document by politicians and other individuals.
Police have yet to announce whether the Criminal Court granted the renewed arrest warrant application. Investigators are also pursuing technical evidence identifying the person behind Godd Dam. The next court decision will determine whether police can proceed with the arrest of the suspected administrator.
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