Chinese businessmen extorted for 2.5 million baht in Bangkok
Bangkok was the scene of a daring extortion case involving five Chinese businessmen and a group of Thais, including law enforcement officers, yesterday, May 5. A press conference, held by Din Daeng police and other relevant agencies, revealed the shocking incident where the businessmen were forcibly detained and extorted for 2.5 million baht.
The incident began unfolding on April 25 when the Chinese businessmen were reportedly coerced by four Thai men within the confines of a Bangkok hotel. They were subsequently ushered into waiting cars. The fear of their situation was heightened by the captors’ demand for a staggering sum of 2.5 million baht.
The police, upon delving deeper into the case, appealed to the Thai criminal court for arrest warrants for seven suspects. The alleged culprits comprised of two serving police officers, a retired officer, and four civilians. The identities of four other suspects were still under investigation.
By the time of the press conference, the police had managed to secure the arrest of five individuals. The group included Police Senior Sergeant Major Atthawut, a 52 year old retired officer from Khan Na Yao Police Force, who was supposedly the ringleader. The other apprehended suspects were 36 year old Theerachai, 39 year old Nophasin, 28 year old Police Sergeant Phuwadet, and 33 year old Jarunet.
The criminal court identified one of the fugitive suspects as Virayuth, a 28 year old police officer from Phaya Thai. He was believed to have played an integral part in the extortion scheme.
One of the victims, Yang, was lured into the plot under the guise of a digital currency transaction amounting to US$65,000, equivalent to 2.5 million baht.
Cash exchange
According to police reports, Jarunet admitted to being tasked with meeting the Chinese businessmen to facilitate a cash exchange using a digital currency card reader. The businessmen were seeking an agent to convert their digital currency into Thai baht.
Following the meeting, Jarunet was instructed to feign victimisation, leading the businessmen to believe they were all being arrested by the suspects posing as police officers.
The whole act was a ruse, with the suspects eventually demanding 5 million baht. The final amount was negotiated down to 2.5 million baht. Once the transaction was complete, the suspects divided the money into 11 parts, reflective of their roles, as per police statements, reported Pattaya News.
The police have since identified two more suspects and requested arrest warrants from the Thai criminal court. Investigations continue to determine the identities of the remaining suspects and bring them to justice for their crimes.
