Chinese Interpreter With Gang Ties Arrested in Thailand Kidnap Case

[webfact]

 

 

A Chinese-language interpreter, known to be affiliated with a notorious criminal gang, was arrested on May 3 in Thailand's Din Daeng district. Theerachai Chaloemwanpen, 36, was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Metropolitan Police Division 1 after a kidnapping incident on April 25 involving five Chinese businessmen.

 

The victims were abducted from a hotel room in Soi Pracha Songkroh 2, and the captors demanded a ransom of 2.5 million baht (US$68,000) in digital currency.

 

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Noppasin Poonsawat reported that surveillance footage revealed an 11-member gang operating the kidnapping using four vehicles. Significantly, current and former police personnel were part of this gang.

 

Following an investigation by the police, five arrest warrants were issued, including for Theerachai, traffic constable Weerayut Phetcharat, and a former senior sergeant major at Kannayao station, Atthawut Sumonrattanakul.

 

While Theerachai and Atthawut have been apprehended, Weerayut managed to escape. Atthawut, who had previously faced suspension, refrained from giving evidence, choosing instead to testify in court.

 

The authorities have confirmed they are currently searching for the six remaining gang members.

 

Picture courtesy of MGR

 

 

-- 2024-05-06

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[webfact]

Chinese Businessmen Extorted in Bangkok; Police Officers Among Suspects

 

Picture courtesy or MGR

 

Five Chinese businessmen were forcibly detained and extorted for 2.5 million baht in Bangkok on May 5. The extortion perpetrators, according to the Din Daeng police, included active and retired Thai law enforcement officers and civilians. 

 

The incident began on April 25 within a Bangkok hotel where four Thai men coerced the businessmen into accompanying them. The plot hinged on a deceptive digital currency deal worth US$65,000 or 2.5 million baht.

 

The businessmen believed they were being arrested by police officers involved in the scheme, during which they were instructed to pay 5 million baht, later reduced to 2.5 million. 

 

Upon investigating, police obtained arrest warrants for seven suspects, two active police officers, a retired officer, and four civilians. At a recent press conference, it was announced the arrest of five people including the ringleader, retired officer Atthawut, from the Khan Na Yao Police Force. Also arrested were Theerachai, Nophasin, Police Sergeant Phuwadet, and Jarunet.

 

Virayuth, a fugitive, is currently on the run. He's an active police officer suspected of playing a key role in the scheme.

 

The extorted money, following completion of the transaction, was divided into 11 parts reflecting their roles.

 

Thai criminal court has issued two more arrest warrants as the investigation continues to bring the remaining suspects to justice.

 

-- 2024-05-06

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[TheFishman1]

It’s not surprising the police in Thailand involved and kidnapping corruption and probably murder TIT

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Significantly, current and former police personnel were part of this gang.

 

I think they misunderstood their job description. They are supposed to prevent crime, not take part in it.

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Picture courtesy of MGR

 

A Chinese-language interpreter, known to be affiliated with a notorious criminal gang, was arrested on May 3 in Thailand's Din Daeng district. Theerachai Chaloemwanpen, 36, was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Metropolitan Police Division 1 after a kidnapping incident on April 25 involving five Chinese businessmen.

 

The victims were abducted from a hotel room in Soi Pracha Songkroh 2, and the captors demanded a ransom of 2.5 million baht (US$68,000) in digital currency.

 

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Noppasin Poonsawat reported that surveillance footage revealed an 11-member gang operating the kidnapping using four vehicles. Significantly, current and former police personnel were part of this gang.

 

Following an investigation by the police, five arrest warrants were issued, including for Theerachai, traffic constable Weerayut Phetcharat, and a former senior sergeant major at Kannayao station, Atthawut Sumonrattanakul.

 

While Theerachai and Atthawut have been apprehended, Weerayut managed to escape. Atthawut, who had previously faced suspension, refrained from giving evidence, choosing instead to testify in court.

 

The authorities have confirmed they are currently searching for the six remaining gang members.

 

-- 2024-05-06

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Not surprising, just scratching the surface🙏

[brianthainess]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The authorities have confirmed they are currently searching for the six remaining gang members.

They Should try looking in their mirrors, they might recognize themselves.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

These cases are the ones we hear about, how many 'extortion's' go on by the cops that we do not hear about?

The sad thing is we will never know?

[ThaiFelix]

It makes you realise how in Thailand there is only a very very fine line between "news and normal day to day goings on.                              

[tandor]

19 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I think they misunderstood their job description. They are supposed to prevent crime, not take part in it.

...now they can say they really understand how the criminal mind works

[soalbundy]

Obviously a lot of misunderstanding going on here, the arrested police officers were undercover agents working to prevent these kidnappings.

[Bangkok Barry]

3 minutes ago, tandor said:

23 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I think they misunderstood their job description. They are supposed to prevent crime, not take part in it.

...now they can say they really understand how the criminal mind works

 

Got it. They were doing undercover research.

[kimothai]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Significantly, current and former police personnel were part of this gang.

Gangsters with a badge.  You see it in every country, but Thailand seems to have more than its fair share. 

[Jimjim1]

29 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I think they misunderstood their job description. They are supposed to prevent crime, not take part in it.

It’s all a bit like I Os. Personal interpretation and not actual interpretation of job description and rules is the order of the day.

TIT

[john donson]

maffia and police, gambling dens, human trafficking, drugs, hookers... 

[smew]

well well....  

[outsider]

The police is involved. Current and former. Okay. Next please...

[NativeBob]

there are many chins in that area. like "alot"!

2.5m / 11 is about 220,000 per "gangster" >>> I don't think thai kidnapping is that cheap. 

obviously something is missing for sure - more likely chins screwed thai businessmen, they applied to police and than things went "banana"

[Jonathan Swift]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

It’s not surprising the police in Thailand involved and kidnapping corruption and probably murder TIT

Nope. But wait, Thailand is prosecuting Thai people? I thought it was only the poor picked on farang who got picked on, persecuted, and prosecuted, according to the usual boneheaded whiny UK commenters. But those commenters will ignore and soon forget this story the next time they feel like whining and complaining, because that's what they do, wherever they are. Ignore the facts in favor of their own bigotry, which ironically is exactly what they accuse Thais of. 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Noppasin Poonsawat reported that surveillance footage revealed an 11-member gang operating the kidnapping using four vehicles. Significantly, current and former police personnel were part of this gang.

Oh the image... 

[Jonathan Swift]

But wait, Thailand is prosecuting Thai people? I thought it was only the poor picked on farang who got picked on, persecuted, and prosecuted, according to the usual boneheaded whiny UK commenters. But those commenters will ignore and soon forget this story the next time they feel like whining and complaining, because that's what they do, wherever they are. Ignore the facts in favor of their own bigotry, which ironically is exactly what they accuse Thais of. 

[John Drake]

Thong Lor police kidnapped Italians about eight years ago. It was in The Bangkok Post, but as can't link to them, this will have to do. https://www.gulf-times.com/story/363683/thai-cops-kidnap-two-italian-tourists

[spidermike007]

Hold on a minute, we were told us that we were above the law, we were told that we will never be held accountable, we were told that we had a personal franchise, and we could do anything with it, to the absolute limits of our creativity. How could we be arrested, we are RTP!

 

Oh I forgot, that's right the charges will be dropped, and we will never see a day in prison. Okay, well I guess that's a consolation. 

[sammieuk1]

It all translates to a rancid pile of sh!te by the sound of it 🤔

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Virayuth, a fugitive, is currently on the run

to his Mom's house.

[Bobthegimp]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Virayuth, a fugitive, is currently on the run

 

His chief complaint is the lack of vegan options on the prison menu. When that's sorted out he will turn himself in. 

[off road pat]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

Thong Lor police kidnapped Italians about eight years ago. It was in The Bangkok Post, but as can't link to them, this will have to do. https://www.gulf-times.com/story/363683/thai-cops-kidnap-two-italian-tourists

Thx for sharing, and refreshing my memory...I forgot about this case

[Arthur Mullard]

Straight out of a 70s Hong Kong flick 🎬

[Ironmike]

Come on folks just look at the latest headlines in the news the top 5 coppers in the land of smiles are all under the chopping block and notably good old Big Joke himself but never mind he's pissed off to the UK, the top cops wife is planning to go live in the UK and every other copper from the top down is a corrupt offer with a badge and uniform 

[kiwikeith]

8 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I think they misunderstood their job description. They are supposed to prevent crime, not take part in it.

I wonder if they would try to extort Russian bussinesmen. 

[Frankie baby]

Their supposed to be people of trust. In other countries that will be taken into consideration when sentenced. The problem here is that there's a good chance none of them will ever get to court.