American Abduction

[Strap]

Has anyone else heard about this?

Copied From the Nation News Website

April 13, 2007 : Last updated 08:32 pm (Thai local time)

Senior cop behind an American's abduction

Police are looking for three more suspects, including a senior Thai cop, in connection with the kidnapping of an American businessman who was held for Bt28 million ransom.

Seven suspects including three Thai-American men and three police were already arrested due to the scandal.

An American businessman Mark Stephen Hutchenson, 46, was rescued by police on Thursday after being kidnapping since April 7. Sukhansa, his wife, said four to five men in police uniforms and plain cloths including a Thai-American Nicolas Pruksukkan, who claimed to be FBI, searched their condominium unit and got US$400,000 (Bt14 million) of cash. They kidnapped Hutchenson and asked for another US$800,000 (Bt28 million) of ransom money. She then reported to the police who eventually rescued Hutchenson.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30031858

I put the link for the story also.

What is gonna happen next?

[mcgriffith]

Has anyone else heard about this?

Copied From the Nation News Website

April 13, 2007 : Last updated 08:32 pm (Thai local time)

Senior cop behind an American's abduction

Police are looking for three more suspects, including a senior Thai cop, in connection with the kidnapping of an American businessman who was held for Bt28 million ransom.

Seven suspects including three Thai-American men and three police were already arrested due to the scandal.

An American businessman Mark Stephen Hutchenson, 46, was rescued by police on Thursday after being kidnapping since April 7. Sukhansa, his wife, said four to five men in police uniforms and plain cloths including a Thai-American Nicolas Pruksukkan, who claimed to be FBI, searched their condominium unit and got US$400,000 (Bt14 million) of cash. They kidnapped Hutchenson and asked for another US$800,000 (Bt28 million) of ransom money. She then reported to the police who eventually rescued Hutchenson.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30031858

I put the link for the story also.

What is gonna happen next?

Uh, one little gentle question. Who keeps $400,000 in cash in their apartment?

[sunshine13]

seriously, why would he have $400,000 in his apartment? how did they find out about it?

[noungning]

yeah additionally it might've been flashy to let those "fbi"s know of the $400,000. sounds fishy.

[Farma]

There's another thread about this same news item in the Bangkok forum with photos and links to the news reports in Thai. This story appears to be linked to another kidnapping last year.

[Mozikillah]

Fishy indeed!

[Heng]

Uh, one little gentle question. Who keeps $400,000 in cash in their apartment?

Uh, a lot of people keep cash in their homes here. Have you noticed that just about every major shopping center has a safe shop/showroom? $400k (in US$) wouldn't even take up the space of those safes that are as big as a microwave. The equivalent (around 12 million Baht), takes up only slightly more space.

[OlRedEyes]

Uh, one little gentle question. Who keeps $400,000 in cash in their apartment?

Uh, a lot of people keep cash in their homes here. Have you noticed that just about every major shopping center has a safe shop/showroom? $400k (in US$) wouldn't even take up the space of those safes that are as big as a microwave. The equivalent (around 12 million Baht), takes up only slightly more space.

Yea, and what with the $ falling, it prolly uses even less space

[Strap]

More info - Updated

Sat, April 14, 2007 : Last updated 0:10 am (Thai local time)

Seven arrested, 3 more sought over kidnapping

Police are looking for three men, including a senior police officer, in connection with the kidnapping and detention of an American businessman in Bangkok for a Bt28-million ransom.

Seven suspects, including three Thai-American men and three police, have already been arrested.

Mark Hutchenson, 46, was rescued by a police SWAT team on Thursday after being held captive since Saturday.

Sukhansa, his wife, said four or five men in police uniform and plainclothes - including a Thai-American half-blood, Nicolas Pruksukkan, who claimed to be an FBI agent - had searched their condominium and made off with US$400,000 (Bt14 million) in cash.

They took Hutchenson hostage and demanded $800,000 for his release. She then reported the abduction to police.

A squad of 30 Metropolitan Police including commandos stormed a town house in Lat Phrao district and found Hutchenson chained and handcuffed with his face covered by a woollen cap.

Police Senior Sergeant-Major Suchart Muengkhunlong and Nicolas were arrested at the site. Suchart denied involvement in the extortion attempt, claiming that he was hired for Bt20,000 to guard the town house.

Yesterday more five suspects including two police were arrested. They were Metropolitan Police Sergeant Sathit Prasanphangsri and Crime Suppression Police Sergeant Prasertpan Punarittidej. The three civilians were Thai-American men - John and James McCleary, and Mongkol Sukkasem. Police also seized some Bt700,000 from the suspects.

All were charged with armed extortion, illegal detention, demanding ransom and malfeasance.

Metropolitan Police chief Lt-General Adisorn Nonsi said that according to information from the US Embassy, the McClearys are members of a ransom ring that fled arrest in the US and joined the gang of Lt-Colonel Thanapol Boonnak, an Immigration Police inspector temporarily assigned to the Internal Security Operations Command.

Police hold arrest warrants for the three suspects at large - Thanapol, Sergeant Adul Kamorn of Chokchai police station and a Thai-Dutch civilian, Samual, or Sam, Pasomthong.

Police believe Thanapol is the head of the kidnapping team and has run away with the rest of the money from Hutchenson's condo.

Adisorn said he had dismissed the three arrested officers, as they were under his bureau. They were denied bail as they had allegedly committed capital crimes. Their supervisors will be also investigated for negligence, he said.

[Heng]

Uh, one little gentle question. Who keeps $400,000 in cash in their apartment?

Uh, a lot of people keep cash in their homes here. Have you noticed that just about every major shopping center has a safe shop/showroom? $400k (in US$) wouldn't even take up the space of those safes that are as big as a microwave. The equivalent (around 12 million Baht), takes up only slightly more space.

Yea, and what with the $ falling, it prolly uses even less space

Hehe. Actually, and unfortunately, Baht is taking up more and more space without being worth more.

[Heng]

Was watching this on the news around midnight last night as well. What's particularly disturbing is that the police involved were from all different divisions (immigration police, CSD, sor nor Huay Kwang, and sor nor Lumpini). That goes against the tradition of police organized crime networks staying within their own districts.

[mikethevigoman]

More info - Updated

Sat, April 14, 2007 : Last updated 0:10 am (Thai local time)

Seven arrested, 3 more sought over kidnapping

Police are looking for three men, including a senior police officer, in connection with the kidnapping and detention of an American businessman in Bangkok for a Bt28-million ransom.

Seven suspects, including three Thai-American men and three police, have already been arrested.

Mark Hutchenson, 46, was rescued by a police SWAT team on Thursday after being held captive since Saturday.

Sukhansa, his wife, said four or five men in police uniform and plainclothes - including a Thai-American half-blood, Nicolas Pruksukkan, who claimed to be an FBI agent - had searched their condominium and made off with US$400,000 (Bt14 million) in cash.

They took Hutchenson hostage and demanded $800,000 for his release. She then reported the abduction to police.

A squad of 30 Metropolitan Police including commandos stormed a town house in Lat Phrao district and found Hutchenson chained and handcuffed with his face covered by a woollen cap.

Police Senior Sergeant-Major Suchart Muengkhunlong and Nicolas were arrested at the site. Suchart denied involvement in the extortion attempt, claiming that he was hired for Bt20,000 to guard the town house.

Yesterday more five suspects including two police were arrested. They were Metropolitan Police Sergeant Sathit Prasanphangsri and Crime Suppression Police Sergeant Prasertpan Punarittidej. The three civilians were Thai-American men - John and James McCleary, and Mongkol Sukkasem. Police also seized some Bt700,000 from the suspects.

All were charged with armed extortion, illegal detention, demanding ransom and malfeasance.

Metropolitan Police chief Lt-General Adisorn Nonsi said that according to information from the US Embassy, the McClearys are members of a ransom ring that fled arrest in the US and joined the gang of Lt-Colonel Thanapol Boonnak, an Immigration Police inspector temporarily assigned to the Internal Security Operations Command.

Police hold arrest warrants for the three suspects at large - Thanapol, Sergeant Adul Kamorn of Chokchai police station and a Thai-Dutch civilian, Samual, or Sam, Pasomthong.

Police believe Thanapol is the head of the kidnapping team and has run away with the rest of the money from Hutchenson's condo.

Adisorn said he had dismissed the three arrested officers, as they were under his bureau. They were denied bail as they had allegedly committed capital crimes. Their supervisors will be also investigated for negligence, he said.

SMELLS OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT BRIBE !

[naklang]

More info - Updated

Sat, April 14, 2007 : Last updated 0:10 am (Thai local time)

Seven arrested, 3 more sought over kidnapping

Police are looking for three men, including a senior police officer, in connection with the kidnapping and detention of an American businessman in Bangkok for a Bt28-million ransom.

Seven suspects, including three Thai-American men and three police, have already been arrested.

Mark Hutchenson, 46, was rescued by a police SWAT team on Thursday after being held captive since Saturday.

Sukhansa, his wife, said four or five men in police uniform and plainclothes - including a Thai-American half-blood, Nicolas Pruksukkan, who claimed to be an FBI agent - had searched their condominium and made off with US$400,000 (Bt14 million) in cash.

They took Hutchenson hostage and demanded $800,000 for his release. She then reported the abduction to police.

A squad of 30 Metropolitan Police including commandos stormed a town house in Lat Phrao district and found Hutchenson chained and handcuffed with his face covered by a woollen cap.

Police Senior Sergeant-Major Suchart Muengkhunlong and Nicolas were arrested at the site. Suchart denied involvement in the extortion attempt, claiming that he was hired for Bt20,000 to guard the town house.

Yesterday more five suspects including two police were arrested. They were Metropolitan Police Sergeant Sathit Prasanphangsri and Crime Suppression Police Sergeant Prasertpan Punarittidej. The three civilians were Thai-American men - John and James McCleary, and Mongkol Sukkasem. Police also seized some Bt700,000 from the suspects.

All were charged with armed extortion, illegal detention, demanding ransom and malfeasance.

Metropolitan Police chief Lt-General Adisorn Nonsi said that according to information from the US Embassy, the McClearys are members of a ransom ring that fled arrest in the US and joined the gang of Lt-Colonel Thanapol Boonnak, an Immigration Police inspector temporarily assigned to the Internal Security Operations Command.

Police hold arrest warrants for the three suspects at large - Thanapol, Sergeant Adul Kamorn of Chokchai police station and a Thai-Dutch civilian, Samual, or Sam, Pasomthong.

Police believe Thanapol is the head of the kidnapping team and has run away with the rest of the money from Hutchenson's condo.

Adisorn said he had dismissed the three arrested officers, as they were under his bureau. They were denied bail as they had allegedly committed capital crimes. Their supervisors will be also investigated for negligence, he said.

SMELLS OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARREST WARRANT BRIBE !

Smells of a Thai wife wanting an increase in her allowance and tipped off the strong arm of the law of the cash. She goes along with the story if they promise her a cut of the loot. Don't put it past her for a minute.

Edited April 14, 2007 by naklang

[taxexile]

Don't put it past her for a minute.

i dont think the wife is involved !!

she was the one who reported it to the police.

there was a huge stash of money in the house already.

why on earth would she involve another 7 people in this , all that would do would be to cut down her share and increase the chances of something going wrong.