Woman Arrested After Nearly Two Years on the Run for Fraud

Picture courtesy of Naewna.

A 41-year-old woman accused of defrauding an oil company out of more than 270,000 baht has been arrested in Kalasin province after nearly two years in hiding. Police revealed the suspect has a history of multiple fraud-related offences and had gone to great lengths to evade capture.

The suspect, Ms. Raweewan, was detained at a house in Mueang district, Kalasin, following a targeted operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (ATPD) of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). Officers executed an arrest warrant issued by Bua Yai Provincial Court on 20 August 2024 for charges including fraud and entering false or distorted information into a computer system with intent to cause harm.

The case dates back to 2023, when Ms. Raweewan contacted an oil company via the LINE messaging app, posing as an employee of an ice factory. She ordered 15,000 litres of diesel, valued at over 270,000 baht, requesting delivery to two separate branches of the supposed ice factory, one in Prathai (6,000 litres) and one in Chaiyaphum (9,000 litres). Believing her to be a legitimate representative, the company delivered the fuel, which was signed for by individuals at both locations.

However, when the company later requested payment, Ms. Raweewan repeatedly delayed, claiming the funds were being processed. The company eventually contacted the ice factory directly and discovered Ms. Raweewan was not an employee and that the company had already paid her directly. Realising they had been deceived, the oil company filed a formal complaint with Prathai Police Station in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Police investigators later discovered that Ms. Raweewan had cut herself off from the outside world and was hiding in a house that appeared abandoned, with surveillance cameras installed throughout the property. She was eventually found hiding under a clothes rack in a bedroom.

Further checks revealed that Ms. Raweewan is also wanted under a second warrant issued by Surin Provincial Court in January 2025 for embezzlement, after allegedly failing to return nearly 800,000 baht worth of diesel proceeds while working as a sales agent. In addition, she has been linked to a cheque fraud case involving a dishonoured cheque totalling 400,000 baht, issued with intent to avoid payment.

Ms. Raweewan has also been blacklisted on consumer warning site Blacklistseller.com, which cautions buyers against engaging in business with her.

She has denied all charges during initial questioning. Police have transferred her to Prathai Police Station to face prosecution.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-08-05