Thai Police on Alert for 'Iranian Spies'

A former Iranian intelligence agent appears at a Bangkok court in connection to the 2012 blast. (AFP)
A former Iranian intelligence agent appears at a Bangkok court in connection to the 2012 blast. (AFP)
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Thai Police on Alert for 'Iranian Spies'

A former Iranian intelligence agent appears at a Bangkok court in connection to the 2012 blast. (AFP)
A former Iranian intelligence agent appears at a Bangkok court in connection to the 2012 blast. (AFP)

The Royal Thai Police issued a “secret order” to police officers nationwide to stay on high alert over the potential presence of Iranian spies in the southeastern Asian country.

The Bangkok Post on Monday cited a police source saying that Thai security agencies are closely monitoring the movement of Iranian nationals who are believed to be operating as spies in Thailand.

The newspaper quoted a source saying that on May 24 last year, Thai police received information about Ghassem Saberi Gilchalan, who arrived in the country carrying a Bulgarian passport which was later found to be fake.

It added that on May 27 last year, the man was arrested by Indonesian authorities at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport just before departing for Qatar.

Indonesian police found that he had entered the country at least 10 times using false papers. A court sentenced him to two years in jail for the offenses and that the man had 11 mobile phones, one tablet computer, a number of SIM cards and cash worth more than B320,000.

The source added that after further interrogation, Gilchalan told police that he had been given several assignments by a former Iranian diplomat in Malaysia to act as a spy both there and in Indonesia several times.

The latest attempt involved lobbying Indonesian authorities to release the Iranian-flagged MT Horse oil tanker apprehended in the country’s waters in January 2021.

The man also set up a company as a front in Bali which was use as a safe house for his covert operations, the source added.

“In light of this, it is possible that spies from Iran may also be engaging in secret operations in Thailand using fake passports,” the source said, adding there have been concerns over Thailand’s’ hosting of the APEC Summit in November which will be attended by world leaders.

“We can't afford to let any unrest or violence happen,” the source stressed, adding that authorities wanted to avoid an attack similar to the February 2012 Sukhumvit 71 explosion.

Three Iranian men were arrested and jailed in connection with a bomb believed to have gone off prematurely targeting Israeli diplomats in Bangkok.

One man had his legs blown off after he tried to throw a bomb at police.

In November 2020, the Iranian prisoners were sent home to serve out their sentences under a prisoner swap agreement to release British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert.

The lecturer was held in Tehran on spying charges she denies.

Two Iranians had been deported, while a third was pardoned in August, Thai officials said.



Ousted South Korean President Yoon Leaves Official Residence

South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. EPA/SONG KYUNG-SEOK / POOL
South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. EPA/SONG KYUNG-SEOK / POOL
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Ousted South Korean President Yoon Leaves Official Residence

South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. EPA/SONG KYUNG-SEOK / POOL
South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol leaves the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2025. EPA/SONG KYUNG-SEOK / POOL

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol returned to his private home on Friday from the official residence after his removal from office, with crowds of supporters turning out to greet his motorcade.

The Constitutional Court upheld Yoon's impeachment last Friday, capping four months of unprecedented constitutional turmoil after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December sent shockwaves through Asia's fourth-largest economy.

South Korea will now hold a snap election on June 3, and questions remain over whether Yoon might still play a role given how his impeachment appears to have deepened polarization in society and stirred up his conservative supporters.

Hundreds had gathered outside the gates of the official residence, where Yoon briefly stopped to hug and shake hands with supporters, some of whom were crying.

The ousted president has not been seen in public since he was released from prison on March 8 when a court cancelled his detention warrant in the criminal case against him. He did not attend the impeachment ruling by the Constitutional Court on April 4.

But a number of his ruling party members and supporters have been seen visiting the official residence where Yoon reportedly discussed the upcoming election.

As he left the official residence, Yoon donned a red baseball cap saying "Make Korea Great Again" given to him by a supporter, video footage showed.

"Now I will go back to being one of the people... and find a new way for the country and the people," Yoon said in a written message relayed via his lawyer.

He and his wife were driven in a motorcade from the official presidential residence to their private apartment in a 37-storey building in Seoul. The pet-loving couple will also take back more than 10 dogs and cats they own.

Some 280 police were deployed around his private home on Friday ahead of the move, and Yoon is to be accompanied by a security detail of about 50 people, media reported.

The former president still faces trial on a criminal charge of leading an insurrection, which is punishable by death or a life sentence if he is convicted.

The race to replace Yoon kicked off this week with nearly 20 hopefuls expected to contest for the candidacy of the conservative People Power Party that is in a fight to retain the presidency against a populist liberal who leads in the polls.

TRAILING IN POLLS

Candidates are set to face an uphill battle against the populist former leader of the Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung, who declared his bid on Thursday, polls show.

All the conservative candidates are receiving single-digit support in polls, with former labor minister Kim Moon-soo leading the pack at 9%, far behind Lee at 37%, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday.

Lee, who faces potential legal obstacles to his presidential bid from various legal cases, has pledged to overcome polarization in society and spur economic growth if elected.

Unveiling his policy vision on Friday, Lee said he wanted to help the industrial powerhouse focus on cutting edge science and technology.

"To survive in the ruthless global battlefield, I make an appeal to you to shift the paradigm from copying to leading," he told a news conference.

Yoon has said his December 3 martial law was meant to expose the abuse of parliamentary majority by the Democratic Party to stall his policies and not meant to impose full military rule.

The Democratic Party and his critics say his actions amounted to an insurrection that nearly destroyed democracy.