Bangkok: The hacker responsible for breaching the personal data of 55 million individuals has been identified as an army officer and was handed over to police on April 5. The suspect, known as '9Near,' allegedly accessed the data from a Thai government agency. This afternoon, "Chaiwat" is expected to provide a statement regarding the incident.
According to Thai News Agency, the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) conducted an investigation and discovered that the hacker had obtained sensitive personal data, including national ID numbers, names, dates of birth, addresses, and phone numbers. The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSC) also detected attempts to sell such data online. In light of this, the Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Khemmarat, a resident of Nonthaburi Province, on charges related to introducing false computer data likely to harm national security or incite public panic.
Further investigation revealed that Mr. Khemmarat is a non-commissioned army officer with ties to a prominent politician. Following the incident, his superiors were notified, and he was brought in for questioning on April 5. Reports suggest that his actions were driven by excitement. Authorities have also detained his wife, a nurse in Nonthaburi Province, for questioning to determine her involvement. If evidence of her participation is found, legal proceedings will ensue. This afternoon, Mr. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, will hold a press conference to discuss the arrest details.