Still no clues to whereabouts of missing Phuket Russian

[webfact]

Still no clues to whereabouts of missing Phuket Russian
Anthika Muangrod


Alexei Slabinskiy is still missing.

PHUKET: -- Police investigating the case of missing Russian expat Alexei Slabinskiy – initially feared kidnapped on Phuket – believe there are no Thais involved in the incident. But they still don’t know where he is.

Mr Slabinskiy’s girlfriend Yana Strizheus, who was also feared kidnapped and possibly dead, was found injured inside a Thalang hotel room on Sunday. She is now at Vachira Phuket Hospital with injuries to her neck and right wrist. She has resisted speaking to anyone.

Her family feared the couple, who live in Kamala, were kidnapped and might be dead after a series of strange phone calls back home.

At a press conference yesterday afternoon (March 17) with Minister of Tourism & Sports Somsak Phureesrisak, visiting from Bangkok, media were briefed on the latest in the investigation, but police are remaining pretty tight-lipped over details of the case.

Pol Col Patthanajak Jakkapan, of Kamala Police, said Ms Strizheus was currently in Vachira Phuket Hospital being treated.

“We don’t know where Mr Slabinskiy is. Our investigators are going to try to find out more. We believe that this incident might have arisen from conflict or perhaps from debts Mr Slabinskiy owes.”

He is sure there are no Thais involved in this case, but believes there are other foreigners involved.

Mr Somsak said many foreigners who came to Thailand would tend to do business with people from their home countries.

“Sometimes this causes problems between them. About the case of the Russian couple, it has yet to be proved that this was a kidnapping. The chief of Phuket police [Maj Gen Ong-art Piewruangnon] has insisted that we will have results soon.”

A search began on Friday (March 14) for the missing couple, who were feared kidnapped after a series of phone calls.

On Sunday morning, a team of police and Russian embassy staff visited the couple’s Kamala house, but found no one at home, and no signs of foul play.

Mr Slabinskiy came to Phuket in April 2013 with Ms Strizheus. The 39-old finance broker told friends and family that he was headed to Thailand for a holiday, and to learn Thai.

But their romantic life in Kamala may have turned into a nightmare on March 7 this year.

The Russian couple called relatives claiming that they were in trouble in Phuket, and urgently needed US$100,000 (B3 million) to solve some unexpected problems. After the call, both cellphones phones went silent, and their concerned families raised the alarm.

Then, on Thursday (March 13), Ms Strizheus called her sister in Russia and told her that she had been kidnapped.

“If I don’t arrive back in [the Russian city of] Vladivostok tomorrow, that means I’m already dead,” her sister quoted Ms Strizheus as saying in a whisper.

According to the sister, the conversation lasted for only 30 seconds, and after that Ms Strizheus’s phone went dead again.

That was the last that was seen or heard of the couple until a maid in the Thalang hotel found Ms Strizheus, injured in a hotel room.

Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/still-no-clues-to-whereabouts-of-missing-phuket-russian-45220.php


-- Phuket News 2014-03-18

[Costas2008]

"He is sure there are no Thais involved in this case, but believes there are other foreigners involved."

Yes, he is very sure.

Thais would never abduct people like that.

Really, what happened with the woman they abducted yesterday? Did they catch them?

These, bloody, foreigners only cause trouble in our country.

[harrycallahan]

Sounds like a job for the tourist police.

[laurentbkk]

Its famous in Thailand , there are no Thai criminals , this is a job specially made for foreigners ..... next joke please ?

[stevenl]

This whole thing sounds like 2 options: 1. he pissed of the wrong people who want their money back, so he had to fake a kidnap; 2. he pissed of the wrong people, probably his own countrymen, who kidnapped him to get their money back.

Since she is free already option 1 seems very likely.

[webfact]

Phuket police connect two local expats to Russian missing persons case
Phuket Gazette


Phuket’s top cop Ong-art Phiwruangnont said he believed that the case will be solved quickly. Photo: Woranut Pechdee

PHUKET: -- Police have identified the two Caucasian men who were seen with “missing” Russian woman Iana Strizheus, found injured and in shock in a hotel room on Sunday.

“We are searching for the two men, who work in Phuket. At this time, we can’t reveal their names without jeopardizing the case,” Phuket’s top cop Ong-art Phiwruangnont said at a press conference last night.

Maj Gen Ong-art revealed that money problems were at the root of the case, but said it was not yet clear whether the events that transpired were a true kidnapping or a hoax to extort money (story here).

"Ms Strizheus, who is still in the hospital, has talked with us, but she’s only telling 50 per cent of what she knows,” Maj Gen Ong-art said.

Ms Strizheus and her boyfriend, 39-year-old Alexey Slabinskiy, entered Phuket on student visas, but were allegedly working in the real estate business.

The couple was last reported seen on March 7.

Timeline of events:

March 7: Relatives of Mr Slabinskiy, in Russia, receive a call from the couple alleging that they were kidnapped. Relatives are asked to send US$100,000. No money is transferred.

March 8: Ms Strizheus checks into the Bang Tao Village Resort at 8:30pm, accompanied by the two suspects currently being sought by police.

March 12: Ms Strizheus reported missing by friends.

March 13: Mr Slabinskiy’s relatives contacted by Ms Strizheus. Relatives told that if the money isn’t sent, Mr Slabinskiy would be killed.

Noon: Ms Strizheus calls her younger sister in Russia, says that her hands and feet are tied up and she needs help.

Sister posts a frantic message online detailing the call and asking for help.

Alexander Kolesnikov, a Region 8 Police Volunteer, sees the message and contacts local police officers.

4:10pm Ms Strizheus checks out of the hotel alone, but is immediately picked up by the two suspects.

5pm: Ms Strizheus calls her sister again and says that she is “free and safe” and going to see a friend in Cherng Talay. Relatives and police then discover that Ms Strizheus’ telephone has been turned off.

March 14: At about midnight, Ms Strizheus checks into the Blue Garden Resort and Spa in Cherng Talay with the two men. One suspect seen leaving the hotel by staff.

March 16: A hotel employee visits Ms Strizheus’ room to ask her to pay. Staffer finds Ms Strizheus on her bed in shock and badly injured.

Ms Strizheus is taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket and later transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where Gen Ong-art ordered a 24-hour police guard outside her room.

March 18: Police continue their search for the two suspects, as well as Mr Slabinskiy.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-police-connect-two-local-expats-to-Russian-missing-persons-case-27880.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-18

[JetsetBkk]

Amazing Thailand.

[bino]

At this time, we cant reveal their names without jeopardizing the case

I do believe that is a first!

[FireMedic]

Absolutely no Thais involved....no witnesses, victim refused to talk, and no cctv..... Sounds like a solid theory there chief. If there turns out to be Thai involvement will the reporters ask the chief why he thought there were no Thais involved?

[crazykopite]

Hate to say this but it sounds as if he has been upsetting one or two people during his stay in Thailand and that they have taken matters into there own hands I do hope he will be found safe and well .

[webfact]

Three arrest warrants to be issued for Russian Phuket kidnapping case
Eakkapop Thongtub


Wanted: Alexander Novichkov (left) and Oleksandr Boychuk

PHUKET: -- Police will today (March 19) issue arrest warrants for three men believed to be involved in the case of missing Russian man Alexei Slabinskiy.

There is still no sign of Kamala resident Mr Slabinskiy, who was reported missing last week along with his girlfriend Yana Strizheus, feared kidnapped and dead after a serious of strange phone calls to relatives back home.

The couple claimed they were in trouble in Phuket and urgently needed US$100,000 (B3.2 million) to sort out their problem.

Ms Strizheus was discovered by a maid on Sunday (March 16) in a room at the Blue Garden hotel in Thalang, with injuries to her wrist and neck. She is now in Vachira Hospital being treated.

Today (March 19) police will ask the court to issue arrest warrants for three men believed to be involved. They have named them as Alexander Novichkov, Oleksandr Boychuk and a man named Andrey, whose surname police do not yet know.

Last night (March 18) at a meeting between Phuket’s top police to discuss the Russian case, officers said they now believe they are dealing with a serious kidnapping case.

They said there is also a fourth man involved in the case – possibly acting as the ringleader. They have not yet identified him, but believe he may already have left Thailand.

This is despite Phuket’s top cop, Maj Gen Ong-art Piewreungnon, saying yesterday he was 90 per cent sure that the case was not a kidnapping, and was instead related to personal problems between the couple. There have also been suggestions it was a scam by the couple.

Last night’s meeting was told that after being found, Ms Strizheus initially refused to speak but is now doing so, and has convinced investigators that this is a genuine kidnapping case.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/three-arrest-warrants-to-be-issued-for-russian-phuket-kidnapping-case-45234.php


-- Phuket News 2014-03-19

[little mary sunshine]

Give it another week or two....the TRUTH may come out....NOW it sounds like

a couple of SMALL TIME Russian Crooks done in by some BIG TIME Russian

Crooks..........Why won't the girlfriend talk to anyone ???? VERY FISHEY !!!

[huahinjoe]

good looking gentlemen... they would perfectly fit in the latest Hulk Movie

Edited March 19, 2014 by huahinjoe

[webfact]

Phuket Police seek arrest warrants for suspects in alleged kidnapping of Russians
Phuket Gazette


Alexander Novichkov is a prime suspect in the alleged kidnapping of a 22-year-old Russian woman and her boyfriend. Photo: Supplied

PHUKET: -- Phuket Police are seeking arrest warrants for the two prime suspects involved in the alleged kidnapping of a Russian couple.

The woman, Iana Strizheus, 22, was badly injured and in shock when she was found by a maid at the Blue Garden Resort and Spa at about 6pm on Sunday. She and her boyfriend, Alexey Slabinskiy, 39, were reported missing nine days earlier (story here).

Mr Slabinskiy, who was allegedly threatened with death unless a ransom of US$100,000 was paid by relatives, is still missing.

“We are requesting arrest warrants from the court today for our two prime suspects, who have been identified from hotel CCTV images, ” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewwatee.

Police named in Thai the two suspects as Alexander Novichkov and Andrey (no surname was provided) in the request. Both allegedly work in Phuket.

“We believe that the situation stemmed from an argument between the foreigners. After we arrest our prime suspects, we will question them and move on to apprehending any others involved,” said Col Arun.

“We are working hard to close this case. We expect to have our answers within a few days.”

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-Police-seek-arrest-warrants-for-suspects-in-alleged-kidnapping-of-Russians-27886.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-19

[Lokie]

Phuket police connect two local expats to Russian missing persons case

Phuket Gazette

Phukets top cop Ong-art Phiwruangnont said he believed that the case will be solved quickly. Photo: Woranut Pechde

Is it me or does the Chief look like 'Benny' out of the 70s cartoon Top Cat (Ok TC...) laugh.png

[DLP]

Maybe he has left Thailand on a false passport.