Cyber Police Arrest Wanted Hacker Accused of Stealing More Than 200,000 Baht in Phuket

Cyber police have arrested a 26-year-old man identified as Sahachat in downtown Phuket after investigators accused him of trying to access a Royal Thai Police database to erase his own arrest warrants and later exploiting a gaming website, causing losses of more than 200,000 baht.

According to police, Sahachat taught himself hacking techniques with AI chatbots despite having only a primary school education. After failing to breach the police database, he allegedly targeted commercial websites with weaker security. His most recent target was Firstup.in.th, which provides online game top-ups and mobile credit services.

Investigators said he manipulated the website’s payment gateway to make unsuccessful transactions appear completed. He then generated credits and exchanged them for prepaid game codes.

Cyber Police Taskforce Commander Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembutr ordered a joint operation with Region 8 officers. Armed with search and arrest warrants, officers raided a rented room in Phuket’s Talad Yai district. They seized desktop computers, laptops, four mobile phones, a firearm and ammunition, and 80 methamphetamine pills.

Police said Sahachat was already wanted under five separate warrants involving robbery, fraud and computer crime. During questioning, he reportedly said he used AI tools while hiding near the Myanmar border to study coding, analyze system vulnerabilities and create attack programs, describing AI as his “teacher.”

Authorities have filed charges including unauthorized access to computer systems and data, altering or destroying computer information, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and drug use, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.