Phuket’s seastead couple remain elusive
The Seastead may be under 24 hour guard at the Port of Phuket but the couple who were staying in the structure offshore from Phuket, and have become the international face of the seastead experiment, remain elusive.
According to Phuket’s deputy police chief Pol Colonel Witoon Kongsudjai, their mobile phone signal identified the couple’s last known location as Tarutao Island in Satun province.
“We are going to track them down,” he warned in a familiar threatening tone to that of the Thai government who see the seastead project as a threat to national sovereignty and security.
Chad Andrew Elwartowski, an American bitcoin investor, and his Thai girlfriend, Supranee ‘Summergirl’ Thepdet have been accused of several laws violation, including taking action that diminish Thailand’s sovereignty.
The authorities have already removed their floating ‘home’ from the Andaman Sea south east of Phuekt’s Koh Racha Yai, and are keeping it as evidence for future court cases.
Police say they have prepared sufficient evidence ready and arrest warrants for the couple should be issued soon. At this point, police are waiting for the Office of the Attorney-General to appoint its officials to join the investigation into this case. The office’s representatives are necessary because the alleged crime took place outside Thailand territory.
SOURCE: The Nation
