Frenchman wanted for fraud, money laundering arrested in Pattaya
A Frenchman who is wanted for fraud and money laundering in his home country has been arrested in Pattaya, Thailand.
Immigration police arrested Julien Aubourdier after being notified by the French embassy that France and Interpol had issued arrest warrants against him. Aubourdier is accused of fraud and money laundering in the amount of US$10.6 million or about 370 million baht.
According to The Chiang Rai Times, Aubourdier is accused of falsifying tax documents in connection to Sport Car Co. Police say he also entered Thailand three times on a visa that expired on January 3.
Upon his arrest, police charged him with overstaying his visa and are working to extradite him to France to face legal action.
Meanwhile, police busted another Frenchman, just one week ago, for a hit and run after a Thai pedestrian was seriously injured last week in Patong. The culprit, Naji Sami Bouakkz, hit a woman, 54 year old Maliwan Sarnrat, with his motorbike on Friday, February 10. The incident happened on Soi Sai Namyen. Bouakkz did not stop his motorbike after hitting Maliwan.
Officers and rescuers rushed Maliwan to Patong Hospital, but she was soon transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital due to the nature of her injuries, The Phuket News reported.
Police used CCTV footage to track down the motorbike, which was returned to a rental shop on Pracha Nukroa Road in Patong on February 14. Police went to the shop to speak to the rental operator. The rental operator said he noticed some scratches on the motorbike, which had been fixed. Bouakkaz was matched with the motorbike that hit the pedestrian in CCTV footage.
The shop owner called Bouakkz to return to the shop, and the police arrested him. Bouakkz now faces charges of hit-and-run causing severe injuries, as well as reckless driving at high speed, The Phuket Express reported.
