UPDATE: 5 men arrested for allegedly abducting foreigner in Bangkok

UPDATE: 5 men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 43 year old Chinese businessman, forcing him into a white Mitsubishi Champ sedan on Sukhumvit 39 in Bangkok’s Phrom Phong area.

The abduction was allegedly over a lawsuit filed by the businessman, who had invested in several spas, against one of the suspects who is a construction contractor. Apparently, the contractor was slow at completing the construction of a spa and didn’t match the design. The businessman then filed a lawsuit demanding tens of millions of baht in damages.

Following the alleged kidnapping, a man associated with the businessman says he was contacted by the suspects. He says they demanded he pay a ransom of 3 million Chinese yuan, which is equal to around 15 million baht, or they would kill the businessman. The man then made a report with the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Children and Women Welfare Division.

The car’s license plates were covered with paper, but police say they were able to track down the car using surveillance camera footage in the area. Police raided the Pho House Resort in the Suphan Buri province, arresting the 5 suspects, who are Thai and Malaysian nationals, and freeing the abducted businessman.

Police say they are still looking for 2 other suspects.

Original story…

Thai media reports that around 5 to 6 members of a gang in Bangkok were arrested for allegedly abducting a Chinese national from Sukhumvit soi 39 in the Phrom Phong area. While prior news reports and posts on social media claim a foreign woman was abducted, Thai media now says a man was kidnapped, possibly related to problems paying off debt.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Children and Women Welfare Division interviewed a friend of the missing person, saying that the gang demanded a ransom of 15 million baht and threatened to kill their friend if they went to police.

The gang members were arrested and the abductee was freed, according to Thai media.

SOURCES: Thai Visa| Bangkok Post

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