Thai loan shark arrested for scamming over 1 million baht
A crackdown led by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) resulted in the arrest of a 37 year old woman for operating more than 10 illegal loan shark gambling rings.
The operation defrauded victims of over 1 million baht and involved intimidation to prevent reporting of the crime. The arrest of the loan shark was executed today, December 2, following an order by Police Lieutenant Colonel Montree Thetkan, the CSD Commander, to Pol. Lt. Col. Phet Ngamlamom, Head of Division 1 of the CSD, and Pol. Lt. Col. Tattaporn Lekhavanapong, Head of Division 1’s Special Operations Unit.
The woman, named Vibha (surname withheld), was apprehended under a Pathum Thani Provincial Court warrant number 340/2023, dated June 8, for being a loan shark or arranging more than three loan shark rings, having loan shark members more than the law allows. The arrest took place on the roadside of Soi Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok 31, Prachathipat Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province.
Vibha established herself as a loan shark, also known as Mother Toy, enticing people to join her gambling ring, which she claimed operated over 10 rings. She promised high returns or interest, but when interested parties invested their money, they did not receive the agreed returns.
When questioned, she dodged the issue and even threatened victims that they would not get their money back if they reported the crime. As a result, many victims, who collectively lost more than a million baht, reported the crime at various local police stations, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant and subsequent arrest, reported KhaoSod.
Upon investigation, Vibha confessed to the crime. Initially, she was remanded to the Khlong Luang Police Station for further legal proceedings.
In related news, police arrested two loan sharks in the southern province of Prachuap Kiri Khan after they killed a fruit seller because he was two days late in paying 400 baht in interest. Read more about this story HERE.
