Woman cleared after her ID used in ‘romance scams’

[snoop1130]

Woman cleared after her ID used in ‘romance scams’

By Suriya Patathayo 
The Nation

 

 

A 25-year-old woman whose Thai ID card was stolen and allegedly used by a “romance scam” network to open bank accounts was officially declared innocent on Monday.

 

Piriya Sommul previously had faced charges in eight precincts over the past two years in connection to the illicit use of her identity.

 

Pol General Thanitsak Theerasawat, a special adviser to the Royal Thai Police Office, announced that Piriya’s name had been cleared at a press conference at police head offices in Bangkok. 

 

Thanitsak said Piriya’s ID card had been stolen on May 8, 2016 while she was on Pattaya City’s Walking Street in Chon Buri province and then used to open five bank accounts, which received Bt2.3 million in transfers from victims who had been duped in deceitful romantic relationships. 

 

Police subsequently issued arrest warrants for four people – Thai nationals Pavena Singhawibul and Jerati Saisin as well as Nigerians Simon Eko Ayuk and Rasheed Olalekan Yusuf. 

 

The first three suspects have been apprehended and are currently being detained after being linked to a similar case involving the alleged theft and misuse of 24-year-old Nicha Kiatthanapaibul’s Thai ID card, which was also used to open accounts connected to fraud and call-centre scams. Yusuf remains at large.

 

Tourist Police Division deputy commander Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpan said police would provide remedial measures to Piriya and help clear criminal cases against her as soon as possible. 

 

He said Piriya could decide whether to file a civil complaint against banks involved in the case, adding that financial institutions should increase their security measures when opening bank accounts.

 

During the press conference, police also announced the arrest of two suspects – an unidentified Ugandan man and his alleged Thai female accomplice, Chanyapich Wisri, 33. They are accused of identify theft in the commission of fraud and duping victims via Facebook chat to wire them money, which was withdrawn from various ATMs.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30339714

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-2-26

[Moti24]

Another photo shoot!  What a waste of manpower, taking those senior officers away from their primary task of catching criminals!

 

By the look on some of their faces, perhaps they are all hoping for a turn with the bouncy castle. 

[MaeJoMTB]

Looks like she ate the evidence.

[roo860]

Looks like she ate the evidence.

Quite a bit of evidence, judging by the size of her.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Lokie]

I'm only surprised no one has commented on the guy wearing the Chuckle Brothers T-Shirt in black.

 

I hope they have real facts that Nigerians are involved and not just pigeonholing them as a race of scammers??

[Cracker2000]

44 minutes ago, Lokie said:

I'm only surprised no one has commented on the guy wearing the Chuckle Brothers T-Shirt in black.

 

I hope they have real facts that Nigerians are involved and not just pigeonholing them as a race of scammers??

I take it your being sarcastic as they are a 'race of scammers'.

 

Everything I've see in 20 years in law enforcement and it all pales next to 3 years in Nigeria.