The Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Akkharadet Pimonsri, has ordered strict enforcement against loan sharks who are threatening vulnerable individuals after they received 10,000 baht in aid. This measure came into effect following the government’s economic stimulus program approved by the Cabinet for 2024, aimed at assisting 14.55 million people, including those with state welfare cards and persons with disabilities.
Payments began on September 25, 2024, for eligible recipients; however, reports emerged of loan sharks exploiting this financial support by threatening vulnerable citizens to pressure them into debt repayment. This has hindered the intended purpose of the financial assistance, which was to alleviate their economic burden and enhance their job opportunities.
In response, the Assistant Commissioner emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to monitor, apprehend, and enforce laws against such predatory lending behaviors, referencing the Debts Collection Act of 2015 and other relevant crimes. Police are also instructed to coordinate with relevant agencies to gather information about affected individuals and ensure close oversight by the police agencies responsible for this initiative.
The directive aims to protect vulnerable populations and communicate the results of law enforcement actions to the public.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
