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A SINGAPOREAN man has been arrested in Thailand for his suspected involvement in a series of high-profile cyberattacks on more than 70 organisations across a dozen countries globally.
Agence France Presse (AFP) reported today that the suspect, who has been identified by Thai authorities as Chia, is accused of infiltrating corporate databases, stealing sensitive information, and subsequently selling the data on the dark web, officials confirmed.
Chia's arrest followed a complaint from a Thai company, which reported receiving extortion threats via a Twitter account (@0mid16b).
The hacker allegedly demanded payment in exchange for withholding stolen customer data, prompting the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) of Thailand's police force to launch an investigation.
TCSD commander Atip Pongsivapai said the authorities initiated a detailed investigation into the hacker's activities after the company reported the extortion attempt.
According to the police, Chia admitted to hacking into several corporate systems and selling the stolen data to third parties on illicit online platforms.
Investigators revealed that since 2020, Chia has successfully infiltrated over 70 organisations worldwide, including 20 companies based in Thailand.
The breach affected industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, and government sectors, highlighting the scale of his cybercrime activities.
In addition to the digital evidence seized during the operation, Thai police also recovered luxury items, including gold ornaments, branded products, and other valuables, collectively valued at around $300,000.
Chia, 39, has been charged with a range of serious offenses, including extortion, unauthorised access to computer systems, and illegally staying in Thailand. Authorities said that during their operation, they also discovered multiple aliases used by the suspect, such as Altdos, Desorden, GhostR, and 0mid16B.
The Singaporean cybersecurity firm Group-IB, which collaborated with Thai authorities on the investigation, revealed that Chia is linked to an astonishing 13 terabytes of stolen data.
This data, according to the firm, had been targeted at high-profile sectors including healthcare, finance, retail, and government entities.
Chia's arrest was the result of a joint operation between Thai and Singaporean law enforcement authorities. He was apprehended in Bangkok on Wednesday, and Thai police provided an update on the arrest on Thursday. – February 28, 2025
