Crime Suppression Department (CSD) officers said Phaisal Thepprathan usually told people he duped he was a mom luang - a distant relative to several royal families - or a police or Army officer. He used many names.

His arrest yesterday followed a complaint by a retired woman after she discovered Phaisal was not what he claimed when they first met in 1987. The 74-year-old woman said she had given him Bt3 million. Along with fraud, document forgery, and wearing uniforms without authorisation, Phaisal, 42, was also charged with battery - for assaulting and beating the woman when they quarrelled over some money he had asked for, promising he would donate it to charity.

The woman said she had adopted Phaisal when he left the monkhood a few years after they met in 1987. He allegedly beat her after she frequently refused to give him money after she became suspicious about him.

Police said Phaisal denied everything and said the woman was a liar and claimed he had never duped other people. However, CSD chief Pol Maj General Worrasak Nopsitthiphorn said he did not believe him and called on other victims to come forward to file complaints against him.

Police found 38 forged documents and said Phaisal had different names and disguises and worked for various government agencies and charity organisations, including the Thai Red Cross.

Some of his bank accounts held more than Bt3 million.