Alleged Russian mafia arrested in Pattaya

[Thaivisa News]

Pattaya, Chon Buri: An alleged Russian mafia was arrested at the Chon Buri Immigration head office Tuesday when he applied for his student visa’s extension.

The arrest of Sergey Kovalenko was announced at a press conference by Chon Buri Immigration chief Pol Col Praphansak Prasarnsuk at 4 pm Wednesday.

Praphansak said the Chon Buri Immigration had been informed by the Russian Embassy in Bangkok that Kovalenko, who carries the passport No 719172304, is wanted by the Russian authorities under the arrest warrant No 2014/36611-1, dated June 18, 2014.

The arrest warrant alleged that Kovalenko was the leader of the so-called Student gang in Yurga, Russia.

The warrant alleged that the Student gang had committed extortions and robberies and had collected protection fees from many victims in Yurga.

Kovalenko was also alleged with involving with murders. Russian police have arrested six members of his gang but Kovalenko managed to flee to Thailand.

Praphansak said Kovalenko turned up at the Chon Buri Immigration on Tuesday to seek to extend his student visa so he was arrested for extradition back to Russia.

Pattaya is known to be a haven of Russian fugitives. Several of arrests of alleged Russian mafias or criminals have been made in Pattaya.

For example in February last year, Pattaya police arrested Dmitry Ishmukhametov, wanted in Russia on extortion charges. He escaped from Russia to live as a real estate developer in Pattaya.

Russian fugitives love Pattaya apparently because the seaside town is popular with tourists from their country. The high number of Russian tourists prompted many of them to start tourism-related businesses to make money from their own fellow citizens.

[Gsxrnz]

With a name like Sergey, enough said.

[WitawatWatawit]

So, the leader of the Student gang got caught while extending his education visa.

That will teach him.

[Thorgal]

Student gang in Russia ?

He could have asked E visa and contact his embassy for immediate student exchange program...incase of...

Edited March 11, 2015 by Thorgal

[Xircal]

Thailand is a member of Interpol and has access to its database so how come immigration doesn't check a person's passport against it when visitors enter the country?

Yes, yes, I know it will make the queues a bit longer having to wait in line at immigration on arrival, but better than having criminals roaming around Thailand's prize den of iniquity as is now the case.

[webfact]

Russian Gangster caught by Pattaya Immigration as he extends visa



PATTAYA: -- At a press conference at the Chonburi Immigration Office in Jomtien on Wednesday, the Superintendent announced the arrest of a 25 year old Russian who is thought to have fled to Thailand to avoid arrest in Russia.

Police Colonel Prapansak announced the arrest of Mr. Sergey Kovalenko, who was detained on Tuesday as he attempted to extend his Student Visa. He is wanted on Russian Arrest Warrant number 2014/36611-1, dated June 18, 2014 which was sent to Immigration by the Russian Embassy in Bangkok.

Mr. Kovalenko is alleged to be the head of a student gang based in Yurga in Southern Russia. The gang are alleged to have extorted protection money from individuals in the town and conducted robberies and other such crimes.

Full story: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/175810/russian-gangster-caught-by-pattaya-immigration-as-he-extends-visa/


-- Pattaya One 2015-03-12

[webfact]

Suspected Russian boss detained



PATTAYA: -- An alleged Russian Mafia boss has been arrested by Thai police in Pattaya.

The alleged Mafia boss, 25-year old Sergey Kovalenko, was apprehended when he showed up at Chon Buri’s immigration police office on Tuesday to extend his student’s visa. The other six gang members were arrested earlier.

Pol Col Praphansak Prasarnsook, superintendent of immigration police in Chon Buri, said that Kovalenko was wanted on a string of charges brought against him in Russia ranging from extortion, theft, protection racket, kidnapping and murder.

The Russian embassy in Bangkok has asked the Thai police for the Mafia boss’ arrest.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/suspected-russian-boss-detained


-- Thai PBS 2015-03-12

[chooka]

Thailand is a member of Interpol and has access to its database so how come immigration doesn't check a person's passport against it when visitors enter the country?

Yes, yes, I know it will make the queues a bit longer having to wait in line at immigration on arrival, but better than having criminals roaming around Thailand's prize den of iniquity as is now the case.

Just think about all the photo ops. You detect one crook trying to enter Thailand and that will shut down the entire arrivals desks whilst all the officers race off and try to cram into one hall to have thier pic taken with a fugitive.

[LennyW]

Find this hard to believe since not that long ago it was categorically stated by the chief of police that there was no Russian mafia in Pattaya!!

[konying]

Mafia boss makes a great headline!!!

Anyone know where Yurga is?

It's in deep Siberia , only polar bears to extort.

[doremifasol]

He doesn't look worried at all.

[Squeegee]

I just like looking at the pictures.

[pitrevie]

Find this hard to believe since not that long ago it was categorically stated by the chief of police that there was no Russian mafia in Pattaya!!

Well there is a precedent with J Edgar Hoover informing the American people there was no mafia (organized crime) in the USA.

[Rimmer]

A post has been removed:

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[ToddinChonburi]

More scum off the street, get them one at a time. I would think that there are some nervous people out there right now.

[Larry001]

Another positive result. Well done. Hope he rots in a Russian jail

[klauskunkel]

Big misunderstanding: He was part of Russian-Thai student mafia exchange program to learn best practices.

[Jim walker]

Well done police I would presume he wont be fighting an extradition like they do in Europe for about 10 years for appeals and infringement of his human rights etc.; just load him on a plane and up up away with you another criminal leaves Thailand in cuffs good.

[Yann55]

With a name like Sergey, enough said.

Could TV members pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase try to put a momentary hold on comments about names ? It's getting really invasive, annoying and boring.

One week of threads without these "how could he be French when his name is Dmitri" or "with a name like that you don't expect him to be a law-abiding citizen" etc etc .... would be a real treat !

If that could be combined with a moratorium on comments about nationalities as well, TVF threads would suddenly become radically different. Yes, I know, I'm dreaming.

[NativeSon360]

So, the leader of the Student gang got caught while extending his education visa.

That will teach him.

Very witty reply

[NativeSon360]

With a name like Sergey, enough said.

[mick01827]

so what about those russian whores on walking street that always dance behind the glass wall on the right side?, i guess they from thai owners right??

Russian owners and very powerful people, for a foreigner to get a club on walking street you've got to have some serious power.

[Barin]

Mafia boss makes a great headline!!!

Anyone know where Yurga is?

It's in deep Siberia , only polar bears to extort.

Yurga, Kemerovo region

[CapeThai]

Pattaya = NOT the Thailand Hub of Farang Fugitives and Crazies... Say No More..

Another one bites the dust in Paradise

They should concentrate on the crowing Nigerian scammers Next up.

[FangFerang]

No to be cynical, but this guy was on a student visa, and probably ran afoul of the existing Russian mafia in Pattaya (who are no small portion of the Russian ex-pat population).

It is an axiom that competition between illegal businesses only takes a phone call to the police to take down your competitor -- except in Thailand. You might be calling the local guardian.

[mikiea]

Mafia boss makes a great headline!!!

Anyone know where Yurga is?

It's in deep Siberia , only polar bears to extort.

serg is to skinny to be a rooski boss, he looks more like a dorm room monitor gone to the dark sude :-)

[petercool]

Some off topic posts removed

[Baerboxer]

Thailand is a member of Interpol and has access to its database so how come immigration doesn't check a person's passport against it when visitors enter the country?

Yes, yes, I know it will make the queues a bit longer having to wait in line at immigration on arrival, but better than having criminals roaming around Thailand's prize den of iniquity as is now the case.

The same reason other countries don't - lack of integrated systems and resources. No doubt it will come, but some time in the future.

Interpol acts as an information exchange and members cooperate. Here the Russian authorities make an appropriate request and the Thai authorities react accordingly.

Do think other countries in coming checks are all double checked with Interpol's data base at the time of entry?

[elgordo38]

So, the leader of the Student gang got caught while extending his education visa.

That will teach him.

Was he taking a course in extortion to increase his knowledge?

[surfinglife]

Education visa extension....that means he had one before..to study what exactly? I wouldn't be surprised if all members of Russian mafia in Thailand were on "education" visas. A bulk purchase?