Immigration police have arrested a 34-year-old Chinese national wanted on loan fraud charges after he allegedly fled to Thailand, where authorities have now revoked his permission to remain in the country.
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The suspect, identified as Mr. Chai Jipeng, was detained by investigators from Immigration Bureau Division 5 following intelligence shared by the Immigration Bureau Investigation Division. Officials said he entered Thailand through Chiang Mai International Airport on 25 June 2026 on a tourist visa valid until 23 August 2026.
Chinese authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Chai on 25 March 2026. He is accused of loan fraud linked to an agricultural and livestock business in Jiangyuan, Jilin province.
According to investigators in China, between September 2025 and March 2026, a Jiangyuan branch bank approved eight loans to the suspect’s company, totalling around 150 million yuan. The loans were reportedly secured against 12,000 cattle presented as collateral. Authorities allege that the suspect later became unreachable, leaving the bank with losses estimated at 192.2 million yuan.
After confirming the suspect’s identity matched the Chinese arrest warrant, officers from Immigration Bureau Division 5 revoked his permission to remain in Thailand under Section 36 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) using immigration order TM.83. He was then transferred to Chiang Mai Immigration for further legal proceedings. Thai authorities said they will coordinate with the relevant agencies to deport the suspect in accordance with legal procedures.
Amarin reported that the arrest forms part of an ongoing Immigration Bureau campaign to identify and detain foreign fugitives attempting to use Thailand as a refuge from prosecution. The operation also reflects continued cooperation between Thai and Chinese authorities in tackling transnational crime.
Pictures courtesy of Amarin
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 1 July 2026