Swede nabbed in Phuket over B100mn tax evasion
PHUKET: Swedish Police ended a two-year hunt for a tax exile on Monday when they arrested Bernt Olov Inge Eriksson at Phuket’s tourist-popular Patong Beach.
Mr Eriksson was wanted in Sweden on a 100-million-baht tax evasion charge.
A task force of Swedish officers began their hunt in Thailand after learning Mr Eriksson, 67, was in the country through a tip-off.
After scouring Pattaya and then Chiang Mai for their suspect, the Swedes arrived in Phuket with the Swedish Ambassador last Saturday to seek help from Phuket Immigration officials.
They explained that Mr Eriksson had imported and sold cigarettes in Sweden, but failed to pay excise taxes on them.
When he was charged with tax evasion in 2010, he fled his Nordic homeland.
The Swedes hit the jackpot in Phuket, as officials had both his photo and a local address. Immigration officers sent out an alert and Mr Eriksson was apprehended at Patong Beach at 4pm on Monday.
As his visa had expired on November 21, 2012, police detained him on overstaying charges.
Mr Eriksson has been transferred to Bangkok, where his deportation will be processed.
Swedish Police will accompany him back to Sweden to face charges.
— Orawin Narabal
