Phuket –
Police investigators in Phuket have arrested a phone technician at a prominent electronics store in a famous department store in Wichit following allegations that he secretly copied and shared a customer’s private data during a routine phone upgrade.
The Wichit Police told the Phuket Express on Wednesday (July 30th) that the suspect, identified as Mr. Code, 26, was detained at his apartment in Phuket Town under a warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court on July 30. He now faces charges under Thailand’s Computer Crimes Act for importing obscene content into a computer system in a manner accessible to the public.
The investigation began after a customer filed a complaint with Wichit Police Station on July 27, revealing that photos from their old iPhone had been misused after a data transfer process at the store. The customer had visited the shop on July 16 to purchase a new iPhone 16 Pro Max and requested assistance transferring data from their old device.
The footage from the store revealed that Mr. Code had used AirDrop to send private photos—without the customer’s consent—from their phone to his own. He later posted the content to a closed Telegram group consisting of six store employees. The customer also discovered that one of their photos had been used to create a dating app profile without their knowledge.
Following this discovery, investigators gathered sufficient digital evidence to obtain a warrant and proceed with the arrest. Mr. Code was taken for questioning at Wichit Police Station and will face legal prosecution.
Pol. Col. Somsak Thongkliang, Chief of Wichit Police Station, called the case particularly alarming, noting the abuse of trust and access privileges. “This is a reminder for consumers to be vigilant during data transfers. Always monitor the process closely, especially when it involves personal photos or sensitive files.”
Authorities have confirmed that five additional employees linked to the Telegram group are under review, with forensic teams working to establish their level of involvement. Legal action will be taken against any who are found complicit.
