CYBER POLICE doubt that an army officer whose alias is 9near had purchased personal data of 55 million Thais from the dark web for 8,000 baht with the intention to resell online as claimed, Naewna newspaper said today (Apr. 12).
Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Watnakornbancha, cyber police chief, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Khamchamnan, the deputy chief, said claims by Sergeant Major 2nd Class (SM2) Khemarat Boonchuay of purchasing the huge amount of personal data from the dark web is being investigated with this network being overseas.
They added that the suspect saying he paid 8,000 baht for the data is just his preliminary testimony and they had the right to believe it or not based on evidence.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat inspected the suspect’s room and found seven to eight notebooks, desktop computers and hard disks. There was also a lot of computer repair equipment as well as routers and sockets with three wifi networks in use.
All this equipment indicated that SM2 Khemarat was proficient and very knowledgeable about computers and results of an inspection of computer use is awaited.
Regarding the suspect’s intention to sell personal data of 55 million Thais, Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat there were three motives behind this. Firstly it was for financial gain, secondly to get people interested by releasing data of well-known individuals in a threatening manner and thirdly when he realised he was being chased diverted the hacking to politics.
In fleeing the suspect did not take his mobile phone nor any electronic tools with him but he did visit a few friends before heading to Chiang Rai alone.
An examination of his girlfriend’s bank account showed that she was not linked to this cyber crime as there was only a few hundred baht there.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat added that investigation showed that the IP address used by the hacker matched what was detected at SM2 Khemarat’s room.
It is also doubtful others were involved in this hacking because the electronic equipment found in the suspect’s room showed he could have done it alone and if he had accomplices they would have found a better place to hide them, he said.
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Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Khamchamnan inspecting SM2 Khemarat Boonchuay’s room. Photos: Naewna
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