Poster of fake B7m transfer slip to Anutin identified

Image alleged the payment was tea money given in 2023, when Anutin was deputy prime minister

Authorities have identified the person behind a fake transaction slip purporting to show a 7-million-baht 2023 transfer to then-deputy prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The image circulated online before the government, police and bank involved investigated and debunked the claim on Monday.

Officials initially identified the poster only as "Chairat," a 26-year-old from Chum Saeng district in Nakhon Sawan province. He was formerly affiliated with the now-defunct Move Forward Party.

The image, posted Monday by the Facebook page "Godd Dam," purported to show a 7-million-baht transfer to an account bearing Mr Anutin's name. The post alleged the money was a "tea money" payment made in 2023, while he held the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister.

The post quickly gained online traction, attracting widespread attention and criticism from social media users.

The post was removed less than an hour after publication. The page owner later acknowledged the removal, stating that the campaign would continue on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.

On the same morning, government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises dismissed the allegation as fake news, stating it had been fabricated to distort facts and discredit Mr Anutin, also the leader of the ruling Bhumjaithai Party, for political gain.

Kasikornbank (KBank), whose platform appeared in the image, later issued a statement on Facebook confirming that the recipient account number shown did not exist in its system—contradicting the claim that it belonged to Mr Anutin.

The bank further noted that transfers made through its K PLUS mobile application are subject to a 5-million-baht daily limit, which is below the 7-million-baht figure shown in the image.

Prominent members of Bhumjaithai also condemned the incident. Ang Thong MP Korrawee Prisananantakul strongly criticised those who spread and amplified the rumour without verifying the facts, calling the action "stupid, incompetent and bad."

Meanwhile, Boonthida Somchai, a Bhumjaithai spokeswoman and Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society, warned the public to verify information before sharing, noting that disseminating inaccurate content can cause harm and may lead to legal consequences.

Rukchanok Srinok, an MP from the opposition People's Party, was among those who shared the post.

The alleged operator of the Godd Dam Facebook page. (Photo: supplied/ Wassayos Ngamkham)

The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Royal Thai Police have investigated the identity of the person behind the "Godd Dam" account. 

Identified only as "Chairat," he reportedly holds a bachelor's degree in business computing from a university in northern Thailand and is believed to be residing in Bang Khen district of Bangkok.

Cyber police have yet to arrest anyone over the offence as investigators were still gathering evidence, police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor said. 

People who share false information may also face legal action, he warned.