Man arrested for over charging for face masks

A man has been held in custody for allegedly over charging for face masks in a sting operation the Internal Trade Department.

The department’s deputy director-general, Prayote Pensut, said today that officials, on routine surfing of the internet to look for face masks for sale online, found an advertisement offering masks for sale at 14 baht each.

Posing as a customer, an official contacted the vendor via the mobile phone number provided and offered to buy 29 boxes, containing 50 face masks each, for 20,300 baht to be delivered to the Siam Rath newspaper office in Bang Plad district.

When the goods were delivered, the undercover official checked the goods, and then handed over the 20,300 baht in cash to the seller, before identifying himself an official and making the arrest.

Overcharging for face masks, which are listed as controlled goods, is subject to a maximum seven-year jail term and/or a maximum fine of 140,000 baht.