Hundreds of Fake ID Cards Issued for Migrant Workers

Five officials are suspected of issuing hundreds of fraudulent ID cards for migrant workers in Pathum Thani province, a high ranking official announced.

An investigation was launched recently after officials discovered duplicate entries in their migrant worker database for the same people – only with different faces, according to Chalermpol Mangkang, permanent provincial secretary. So far they’ve determined that at least 300 of fake ID cards were issued to migrant workers.

“We expect to find many more,” Chalermpol said.

He added that four officials are now being investigated, while a specialist at the Lat Lum Kaew district office has been transferred to an inactive post. Chalermpol did not name any of the five officials or elaborate on how they might have been involved with the alleged fraud.

The ID cards, known formally as document TR 38/1, are issued by Thai authorities for migrant workers from neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia, permitting them to stay and work in the kingdom for a limited time.

The fraud appeared to come to light when Channel 3 aired a report about the issue Friday. In its report, Channel 3 said some Burmese workers had complained to its reporters that their names and other private information have been duplicated on the ID cards of other migrant workers.

Full story: Khaosod English

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