Thai backstage artist fakes kidnapping over 90,000 baht debt in Bangkok

A woman known as Premika, who works as a backstage artist, was allegedly kidnapped from her workplace by a group of creditors due to her inability to repay a debt of 90,000 baht. Her husband, using the pseudonym “Ek,” reported the incident to Huai Khwang Police Station.

It was revealed that the couple had been together for over a decade and had previously never experienced financial difficulties. However, recently Premika had been struggling financially due to a decrease in work, resulting in her borrowing money from unregistered creditors.

Initially, the total amount borrowed was 150,000 baht, of which a portion had already been paid, leaving an outstanding debt of 90,000 baht.

Premika had negotiated with the creditors to repay the remaining amount in four instalments, with the first instalment of 37,000 baht due last month. However, she couldn’t pay the full amount and requested to add the remaining amount to the next instalment.

On the day of the alleged kidnapping, Ek had dropped off Premika at a petrol station near their home, as per her request. Normally, he would drop her off at the Thailand Cultural Centre, her place of work. A friend of hers had then picked her up and accompanied her to work.

Around 11am, Premika informed Ek via LINE, a communication app, that she couldn’t enter her workplace due to a group of seven to eight men waiting for her outside. After that, she ceased all communication.

Alleged kidnappers

Her boyfriend was later contacted via LINE by an unknown person claiming to be her kidnapper, who demanded the remaining debt be repaid in full, otherwise, Premika would be sold elsewhere. Initially, Ek didn’t believe the kidnapper’s claims.

However, that night, Premika video-called her relatives, her face covered in blood, begging them to help her find the money, otherwise, she would be physically harmed. Prior to reporting the incident to the police, Ek had managed to raise 10,000 baht and transferred it to Premika’s bank account, as instructed by the alleged kidnappers.

Ekkaphop Luangprasert accompanied Ek to the police station and revealed that the case had been reported two days earlier. Initially, he doubted the validity of the case, but after seeing a video of Premika covered in blood, he decided it was necessary to report the incident to the police.

Investigative officers from Huai Khwang Police Station interrogated the involved parties and travelled to the Thailand Cultural Centre, where Premika works. To their surprise, they found Premika working as usual, showing no signs of being held captive or physically harmed.

She initially confessed to fabricating the entire scenario, although her motive is yet to be determined, as she was still working when the police found her.

Before this incident, Ek claimed that Premika had falsely alleged being kidnapped by creditors demanding money on two separate occasions. Ek warned that if she was lying again, he would end their relationship for good.