Four arrested for kidnapping Udon Thani woman over 200,000 baht debt

Four criminals were apprehended after kidnapping a 54 year old woman in Udon Thani, Thailand, demanding a ransom to settle a long-standing debt. The suspects were captured by police in a forest near Wat Tham Sai Bat.

A group of four people kidnapped the woman, Tim, from her home in Chai Wan district, Udon Thani province, and demanded a ransom of 200,000 baht (US$5,900) to settle a debt owed by Tim’s sister.

The kidnappers initially demanded 170,000 baht (US$5,000) but later reduced the amount to 30,000 baht (US$890). They also instructed the victim’s family to leave their pickup truck at the house of one of the kidnapper’s mothers.

The police, including investigative teams from Udon Thani Provincial Police and Chai Wan Police Station, located and apprehended the suspects in a forest near Wat Tham Sai Bat in Nong Kung Thap Ma subdistrict, Wang Sam Mo district, Udon Thani province.

The suspects were taken into custody around 6.30pm yesterday, September 9. The suspects include 36 year old Jirapriya Pakphin, 40 year old Banphot Rithmaha, 31 year old Rittichai Traitip, all from Udon Thani, and 42 year old Payao Motham, from Sakon Nakhon. The police also seized a Nissan Navara pickup truck, used in the kidnapping, and a black Honda Jazz car belonging to Payao.

The detainees were taken to Chai Wan Police Station for further questioning, as Tim, the victim, needed to provide her statement. Tim suffered facial injuries, including bruises and swelling.

When questioned by journalists, Jirapriya admitted to kidnapping Tim out of frustration over an unpaid debt of nearly 10 years. She claimed she acted out of anger after being insulted and only struck Tim out of rage. Banphot, known as Sie Goy, and the other two suspects admitted to the abduction but denied assaulting Tim, reported KhaoSod.

Tim’s mother, Daeng, expressed her gratitude to Pol. Col. Ratpholchai Pensongkram, the superintendent of Chai Wan Police Station, and the officers involved in rescuing her daughter. Daeng, visibly emotional, attempted to bow down to Colonel Ratpholchai, who helped her up and reassured her, stating it was the police’s duty to serve and protect the public.