Police hunt for Pattaya godmother

[webfact]

Police hunt for Pattaya godmother
Detawee Teewarangkool
The Nation

Arrests over extortion ring that sold 'protection' to vietnamese workers

PATTAYA: -- POLICE AND troops yesterday joined forces to crack down on a big extortion ring in Chon Buri province.

The ring has allegedly collected Bt2,000 per month each from more than 100 Vietnamese people working in the tourist town of Pattaya. All payers were given a name card that showed they were "protected" by Wikanda sae Lim or "Je Jiab".

The alleged "godmother" remains on the run. And at least one police officer is now linked to her ring.

Two of her aides were arrested yesterday - Sukhum Kaewdorndu, a 30-year-old Thai man, and Kaew, a Vietnamese man.

Bang Lamung district chief Sakchai Taenghor joined soldiers, police and administrative officials in their raid on a house in Bang Lamung district early yesterday in response to a tip-off that an extortion ring operated from there.

Inside the house, officials found Sukhum, a gun, ammunition, plus many passports and bank passbooks. The cash flow through the passbooks was around Bt50 million.

Sukhum told officials that he had worked for Wikanda, the owner of the Bri - Enjoy travel agency.

Inspections at the firm reveal the travel agency had already closed down. No one worked inside its office.

Ongoing investigations showed that Wikanda's Bri - Enjoy Hotel operated without any licence.

Kaew was arrested later in the day when he showed up at the house where Sukhum was arrested. He denied any knowledge of the alleged crime initially - however, his cell-phone rang while he was being interrogated - and it came from Wikanda.

He then confessed to "overseeing" more than 100 Vietnamese workers for Wikanda. The Vietnamese nationals had taken various jobs in Pattaya such as flower sellers and parking assistants.

Kaew said Wikanda had been able to prepare passports and accommodation for migrants who were interested.

"By paying a fee of Bt2,000 a month they can get protection. If summoned by officials in the area, they can produce the purple card given by us and local officials will know they are with Je Jiab," Kaew said.

Officials suspect Wikanda has close ties with some police officers. An apartment block affiliated with her gang has a red box for police patrols and the name of one officer. This building has housed many Vietnamese and Tai Yai nationals.

Officials have vowed to track down Wikanda.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-hunt-for-Pattaya-godmother-30242405.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-03

[webfact]

Hunt for Pattaya Human Trafficking suspect and “Immigrant Protector”



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday a team of District Government Officials supported by the Army were on the hunt for a woman, accused of trafficking Vietnamese Illegal Immigrants and forcing them to pay her to protect them as they work illegally in Pattaya.

Khun Sakchai, the Chief of Banglamung District led the operation which aimed to arrest Khun Wiganda also known as “Jae Jeab”. It was suspected she was organizing teams of Vietnamese Illegal Immigrants to be transported into Pattaya. She would charge them 2,000 Baht each which would cover their visa applications and “protection” during their stay in Pattaya.

Initially Officers visited her residence in Soi Bongkot, Central Pattaya. She was not there but a man named Khun Sukhum aged 30, was there and claimed to be her driver.

Initially he claimed to have no knowledge of the allegations brought against her but eventually confessed to assisting Khun Wiganda with transporting Vietnamese workers into Pattaya . A search of the house uncovered many cartons of cigarettes and a large quantity of US Dollar currency which was seized and taken into evidence.

He then led Officers to a Visa and Travel Company in Soi Baukhao which was closed and access to the building was not possible. At the same time back at the house a Vietnamese man arrived, Mr. Gaew, but claimed to know nothing until he received a call from Khun Wiganda which was heard by officers. She was asking Mr. Gaew if the officers had arrived yet, suggesting she had received advance warning of their visit from someone.

Full story: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/142937/hunt-for-pattaya-human-trafficking-suspect-and-immigrant-protector/


-- Pattaya One 2014-09-03

[clockman]

Bib protected, for sure!

[KittenKong]

There's rarely any shortage here of people keen to exploit these poorly-paid immigrants.

[shirtless]

Thainess taking care of others (for a fee)

[klauskunkel]

Two of her aides were arrested yesterday

The term is 'consigliere", capisce?

[JarekN]

Just a big joke, you wanna stop the issue of illegal workers just come up with a high enough fine for those who hire them and do not let em off without paying it... Such a simple solution yet seems like everyone here is unable to implement it. With that said if they can't fix such a small issue how are they expected to ever fix any of the bigger issues...

[Triplebank999]

There's rarely any shortage here of people keen to exploit these poorly-paid immigrants.

I'm not condoning exploitation but maybe your post should have referred to illegal poorly-paid immigrants. There are many Thais that are poorly paid also remember.

[Triplebank999]

Thainess taking care of others (for a fee)

ThaiVisa-poster-ness, sweeping uninformed generalisations.

[petercool]

defamatory post removed

[SOTIRIOS]

...so upstanding.....

[KittenKong]

There's rarely any shortage here of people keen to exploit these poorly-paid immigrants.

I'm not condoning exploitation but maybe your post should have referred to illegal poorly-paid immigrants. There are many Thais that are poorly paid also remember.

I dont think there is any shortage of people here keen to exploit them also. But generally the immigrants (legal or not) seem to be treated even worse than the locals are.

[petercool]

speculative post that is potentially defamatory was removed

[ATF]

She looks like a nice person can't understand what all the fuss is about.

[AdamRich]

Damn. That's my street.

[petercool]

The Mayor of Pattaya and his family is an "off-limit" topic at Thai Visa. So a post was removed.