German Robber Arrested In Lamphang To Be Deported

[sriracha john]

BANGKOK, Feb 21, 2006 (AFP) - Thailand will extradite a German man wanted for bank robberies in his home country, Thai police said Tuesday.

Romuald Mariusz Wanaatowicz, 49, is wanted for an unknown number of German bank robberies totaling 5.0 million euros (235 million baht), police said.

Wanaatowicz was arrested on Monday in the northern Thai province of Lampang where he lived with his Thai wife. Residents had reported him to authorities for suspicious behaviour including flaunting his wealth in the poor rural area.

Police contacted the German embassy in Bangkok and learnt that Wanaatowicz's passport had been revoked. A warrant was issued in Germany for his arrest in October last year.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wanted German thief arrested in Thailand

Bangkok (dpa) - Thai police have arrested a German national wanted in his homeland for allegedly stealing 5 million euros from bank delivery vans, Thai immigration police said Tuesday.

Romuald Mariusz Wanaatowicz, 49, was arrested Monday in Lamphang province, 500 kilometres north of Bangkok, after Thai police had confirmed he faced an arrest warrant in Germany for robbery, said the immigration police commissioner, Lieutenant General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul.

Wanaatowicz is accused of participating in two bank van robberies in 1999 and 2003. Two of his suspected accomplices were arrested in Germany after the robberies, but Wanaatowicz fled to Thailand on September, 27, 2004, said Suwat, citing information obtained from German Interpol.

Wanaatowicz moved to Prachuab Khiri Khan province, a seaside town 220 kilometres south of Bangkok, where he opened a restaurant and tour company with his Thai wife and built a house.

"Prachuab police got suspicious about Wanaatowicz's unusual wealth, so inquiries were made with the German embassy about his background," Suwat told a press conference.

Wanaatowicz's fondness for luxury items was also demonstrated in Germany. "He used a BMW to stage his robberies," Suwat said.

In an apparent effort to avoid increased police scrutiny, Wanaatowicz moved to the quiet town of Lamphang in October.

Suwat said the German embassy had revoked Wanaatowicz's passport prior to his arrest, giving them legal grounds to arrest and deport him. The robbery suspect is to remain in Immigration Jail in Bangkok until his deportation.

[Tippaporn]

Twice an idiot - once for robbing banks and again for his bravado. Well, nice to know he won't be in Thailand much longer. Life can be sooo sweet, yet sooo short-lived!

[penzman]

He probably was lucky to get away with robbing banks since he was too dumb to keep a low profile afterwards.

[sriracha john]

Police contacted the German embassy in Bangkok and learnt that Wanaatowicz's passport had been revoked.

In case anyone was wondering how someone might be able to enter Thailand on a revoked passport, yet ANOTHER extradition/deportation in the works of a man arrested the same day as the German might provide the answer:

(AFP) A Bangladeshi man, who police said took one name, Sayed, was arrested in Bangkok late Monday for allegedly carrying five counterfeit Indian passports and one fake French one.

He also had a credit card bearing his photograph but with the name of Damak Bin Hassan, police said. Sayed was charged with counterfeiting official documents.

Thailand is planning a tough new law to crack down on fake passports and other forgeries as part of the fight against global terrorism, the European Union's counter-terror chief said on February 4.

Thai police said last month they had arrested a Bosnian man for possessing 120 fake European passports and other fake documents from Western European countries including Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

[Sing_Sling]

Police contacted the German embassy in Bangkok and learnt that Wanaatowicz's passport had been revoked.

In case anyone was wondering how someone might be able to enter Thailand on a revoked passport, yet ANOTHER extradition/deportation in the works of a man arrested the same day as the German might provide the answer:

(AFP) A Bangladeshi man, who police said took one name, Sayed, was arrested in Bangkok late Monday for allegedly carrying five counterfeit Indian passports and one fake French one.

He also had a credit card bearing his photograph but with the name of Damak Bin Hassan, police said. Sayed was charged with counterfeiting official documents.

Thailand is planning a tough new law to crack down on fake passports and other forgeries as part of the fight against global terrorism, the European Union's counter-terror chief said on February 4.

Thai police said last month they had arrested a Bosnian man for possessing 120 fake European passports and other fake documents from Western European countries including Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

He did not enter Thailand on a forged passport :

Suwat said the German embassy had revoked Wanaatowicz's passport prior to his arrest, giving them legal grounds to arrest and deport him.

Added to this the guy was a Pole and gained German citizenship through repatriation laws.

[sriracha john]

He did not enter Thailand on a forged passport :

Suwat said the German embassy had revoked Wanaatowicz's passport prior to his arrest, giving them legal grounds to arrest and deport him.

Yes, I was wondering about just when it was revoked as neither report said precisely when that was. If it was just immediately prior to his arrest in 2006, why would the German authorities not revoke it in 1999 after the first robbery was commited?

[Maigo6]

Wanaatowicz was arrested on Monday in the northern Thai province of Lampang where he lived with his Thai wife. Residents had reported him to authorities for suspicious behaviour including flaunting his wealth in the poor rural area.

I bet those residents were Farangs whom he had disagreements with, I have seen that very same thing happen in Pattaya, disgruntled Farangs running to the authorities trying to make problems for a fellow Farang.

The Thai's would not think too much about a German man being unusually wealthy, but envious Farangs are a different proposition.

One Farang was once telling me that he was gonna flick a few yaba tablets under his neighbours door then call the Police and say he suspected the Farang was dealing drugs. Apparently they had some problems about the neighbours noisy stereo.

Dunno how serious he was, but it pays to say as little about yourself as possible to Farangs, and give many of them a wide berth.

[johnh101]

The would have revoked it prior to his arrest, making it easy for the police to arrest him for his immigration violations and hold him in custody until deportation.

[sriracha john]

Why not after he was ID'd in 1999 and thus make any getaway attempt to another country at least a bit more troublesome?

[sriracha john]

Romuald Mariusz Wanatowicz, age 50

Wanted German's run ended

A German man accused of stealing 4.3 million euros (201 million baht) in security van hold-ups in 1999 and 2003 has been arrested in Thailand after two years on the run and will be deported, immigration police said yesterday. A Bangladeshi man found carrying fake passports will also be sent back home.

Romuald Mariusz Wanatowicz, 49, was arrested on Monday in Lampang province where he lived with his Thai wife.

Residents had reported him for suspicious behaviour, saying he was flaunting his wealth in the poor rural area.

Police contacted the German embassy and learnt Mr Wanatowicz's passport had been revoked and a warrant for his arrest issued in Germany in October last year.

-BP

[Axel]

...

Police contacted the German embassy and learnt Mr Wanatowicz's passport had been revoked and a warrant for his arrest issued in Germany in October last year.

-BP

That sounds different from previous statement, that the embassy revoked the p/port in order he could be arrested.

[h90]

should note that he isn't a "real" german. The name is from poland I think, but not german.