Couple arrested for allegedly opening “mule” accounts for call centre gang

14 Sept 03:25 Key points summarised by AI

A couple, Somsak (43) and Pathumrat (20), was arrested for allegedly opening six "mule accounts" used by a call centre scam gang to temporarily hold illicit funds.
They face charges under the Computer Crime Act and for conspiring to cheat the public, admitting they opened the accounts for 500 baht each after being persuaded by a friend.
Victims were defrauded of significant amounts (101 million and 42 million baht) after receiving scam calls impersonating postal services and police, directing them to transfer money into these mule accounts.
Despite new regulations reducing new bank account openings, authorities note individuals continue to risk opening mule accounts for online scammers, lured by attractive rewards reportedly up to 30,000 baht per account.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.