Thai police are expanding an investigation into the alleged abduction of a 29-year-old Chinese woman after photographs found on a suspect's phone appeared to show several other Chinese women with their hands tied. National police deputy chief Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelabutr chaired a case-progress meeting at Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Police headquarters on 27 August, alongside Provincial Police Region 6 commissioner Pol Lt Gen Kittisak Durongkaviboon and local officers. Social Development and Human Security officials also attended. The woman was rescued after escaping a vehicle travelling towards the border following events on the night of 23 August 2026. Four suspects were detained after the vehicle fled a police checkpoint. Woman says she was recruited while in Singapore Police said the woman had been visiting Singapore before meeting a Chinese female friend who invited her to Thailand. The friend reportedly said there could be business or income opportunities, offering to cover flights and accommodation and saying someone would collect her at the airport to take her to view work. Picture courtesy of Daily News A family consisting of a father, mother and child collected her on arrival in Thailand, according to her initial statement. She said they initially took her off the expected route, but returned her to accommodation in Samut Prakan after she challenged them. The following morning, she said a 24-year-old man named Kittiporn collected her by car. Believing he had been arranged by her Chinese friend, she travelled with him. Police said Kittiporn then picked up three men. One sat in the front while two sat beside the woman in the rear. She allegedly realised she had been deceived, resisted and was restrained with her hands tied. The vehicle travelled from Bangkok via the Asian Highway before turning onto secondary roads in Khanu Woralaksaburi district, Kamphaeng Phet, and heading towards Kamphaeng Phet town, police said. Officers preparing a checkpoint reportedly saw the woman signalling for help inside the vehicle, as it drove off. Phone images raise concern over further victims The suspects deny the allegations during questioning. However, investigators examining one suspect's phone found images of several Chinese people apparently tied up and held in circumstances similar to the current case, with some information linked to Ayutthaya province. Police have seized the material and are examining whether it is connected to the same network and how many other people may have been targeted. The initial investigation covers alleged assault, robbery, unlawful detention and driving offences involving drugs in the body. Further charges may follow the evidence. Pol Gen Thatchai has ordered investigators to trace those who may have recruited victims, arranged vehicles, held them and planned their movement towards the border. Police have not ruled out human-trafficking charges if evidence supports them. Investigators trace possible wider network Police are reviewing money trails, communications, phone records, travel routes and links between the suspects. They are also investigating whether foreign nationals may have used Thai intermediaries. The deputy chief ordered a transparent investigation and said any state official found involved at any stage would face legal action. Region 6 police are gathering the victim's statement, phone data, photographs and contact records to establish whether those arrested were only operational members of a wider network. Related story Chinese-woman-escapes-alleged-kidnappers-in-Thailand Join the discussion? 28 August 2026
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