South Korean fraud suspect arrested in Pattaya for visa overstay
A coordinated effort yesterday led by Police Major General Chairit Anurit, Commander of Immigration Bureau Division 3, alongside Police Colonel Plearn Klinpayom, Deputy Commander of the same division, culminated in the apprehension of a 41 year old South Korean national.
The South Korean, Jiyong Ki, was taken into custody in a room located in North Pattaya, yesterday, February 12, at 11.16pm.
He faces charges for entering and residing in Thailand without proper authorisation and is also wanted under an Interpol arrest warrant concerning a fraud case involving electronic products from renowned brands. Previously employed by a prestigious electronics brand in Korea, Ki was dismissed from the company.
Despite this, he continued to mislead victims into placing orders for products through him. Once agreements were signed and payments made, the products were never delivered.
The accumulated losses were estimated at approximately 1,155 million won, equivalent to around 31 million baht (US$915,415). Ki fled to Thailand to evade capture.
Upon receiving information, the police conducted an investigation leading to Ki’s arrest. He confessed to being the man wanted under the Interpol warrant.
Further checks revealed he had overstayed his 90-day visa limit in Thailand. Ki was subsequently detained and transported to a local police station, reported The Pattaya News.
Police Colonel Naphasaphong Khositsuriyamanee disclosed that Ki’s fraudulent activities involved enticing victims to purchase brand-name products. After collecting payments, he failed to deliver, causing significant financial setbacks.
Last year, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Immigration Bureau arrested a South Korean man in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen for overstaying his visa and trafficking drugs from Thailand to South Korea.
Thai officials were instructed to withdraw visas and deport two South Korean nationals under an INTERPOL Red Notice. The two suspects are believed to have entered Thailand to smuggle drugs back to their home country.
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