Law and Crime

Vientiane Shuts Down KM38 Dharma Practice Center After Leader Defies Order Over Reborn Buddha Claim

On 24 September, Vientiane authorities shut down the KM38 Dharma Practice Center in Sangsai village, Pakngum district, after its leader declared herself the reincarnation of Phra Sri Ariya Metrai, the Maitreya Buddha that Buddhist tradition says will one day appear on earth to succeed Gautama Buddha. Under the 24 September...

Corruption Crackdown in Laos’s Attapeu Province Uncovers Millions in Financial Irregularities

Attapeu authorities have detailed five years of corruption investigations and financial irregularities, including a...

Xaysomboun Identifies Four Companies Over Unauthorized Gold Mining

Authorities in Xaysomboun Province have identified four companies allegedly involved in unauthorized alluvial gold...

Laos Detains 33 Suspects in Two-Day Vientiane Cybercrime Crackdown

Lao authorities detained 33 people, all Chinese nationals, in a two-day operation targeting cybercrime...

Latest Scam Center Raids Hit Vientiane, Champasak with Nearly 100 Arrests

Laos has detained nearly 100 suspected scammers in raids across the country last week,...

Thai Authorities Discover 85 Bodies Allegedly Linked to Controversial Monk-Led Cult

Thai authorities have uncovered 85 human bodies at three locations in Thailand’s Phichit and Kamphaeng Phet provinces. The bodies are allegedly linked to a monk-led...

Eight Detained in Laos Over Tourist Deaths Linked to Methanol Poisoning at Vang Vieng Hostel

On 25 November, the Vang Vieng police arrested eight individuals allegedly linked to the deaths of foreign tourists at Nana Backpackers Hostel. The detained individuals,...

Thai Court Issues Warrant for Healthcare Mogul Over Fraud Linked to Laos, Vietnam

Thailand’s Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on 22 November for Boon Vanasin, a Thai national founder of Thonburi Hospital and chairman of Thonburi Healthcare...

Vang Vieng Mayor Addresses Tourist Deaths, Promises Justice

Following the deaths of foreign tourists at a guesthouse in Vang Vieng district, Vientiane Capital last week, Bounchan Malavong, the district mayor, addressed the...

Laos, China Signed Agreement on Exchange, Cooperation in field of Law and Justice

On 21 November, the ministries of justice of Laos and China took a significant step toward strengthening their legal ties by signing an agreement...

What the Law Says: Food Safety Violations in Laos

In light of recent incidents involving tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, the Lao government has confirmed three deaths suspected to be caused by methanol...