Wichit Police Chief Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang confirmed that officers took the suspect, named in police reports only as ‘Mr Sakda’, 29, into custody on Friday (Nov 7) after a patrol team was dispatched to investigate suspected drug use at a house in Moo 4, Wichit.
Officers arrived at the residence after receiving a public tip-off about a young man allegedly using drugs inside. After identifying themselves in accordance with procedure, police carried out a urine test, which returned positive for Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine). Mr Sakda was taken to Wichit Police Station and charged with illegal drug use.
However, during questioning investigators learned that Mr Sakda was the same man widely reported in local online communities as a fraudulent air-conditioning technician known as ‘Chang Chi Wat Thep’ – a moniker linked to repeated complaints from residents from many parts of Phuket.
According to police, the scam involved Mr Sakda advertising air-conditioner repair services online. After being hired, he would inspect the unit, claim to have identified faults requiring spare parts or refrigerant, and then request cash transfers from customers to purchase the materials. Once the money was sent, he would disappear without carrying out any repairs.
The pattern prompted island-wide warnings in local social media groups, where victims labelled him a “legendary technician” to avoid – though many were still duped.
Pol Col Somsak said Wichit Police have now coordinated with senior officers at stations across Phuket to gather all outstanding complaints linked to the suspect.
One such case dates to Sept 23, when a woman in Karon reported being scammed after transferring B300 for gas and B1,800 for spare parts to an account in the name of a man believed to be the suspect’s father. The technician never returned to complete the repair.
Karon Police investigators are scheduled to visit Wichit Police Station today (Nov 10) to formally bring fraud charges against Mr Sakda.
“Mr Sakda used online platforms to find victims, conducted fake inspections and then took payment for parts he never bought,” Pol Col Somsak said. “We believe there are many more people who have been deceived.”
Police are urging any additional victims of ‘Chang Chi Wat Thep’ to file complaints at their local police station so that charges can be consolidated and further legal action pursued.