‘CON’ CAUGHT AFTER FOUR YEARS

A former police officer who allegedly posed as a monk and conned people out millions of baht was arrested in Bangkok yesterday after almost four years on the run.

Rawipas Rawipasnitikul, 37, was apprehended outside a pub in Soi Thong Lor 10 in Watthana district.

The Talingchan Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for Mr Rawipas on Jan 9, 2012.

The arrest came after Mr Rawipas’ alleged swindling activities were reported by people who said they were duped.

His alleged victims said they were conned into making donations to save the lives of cows and buffaloes who were due to be slaughtered.

They said Mr Rawipas, who claimed he was a monk called Phra Rawipas at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani, set up a Facebook page to raise “donations”.

Several victims wired several million baht to Mr Rawipas’ bank account. However, they later found that Mr Rawipas had already left the monkhood and part of their money was donated to Wat Phra Dhammakaya instead.

Police received a tip-off that the suspect often visited entertainment venues in the Thong Lor area.

Mr Rawipas allegedly told police he served as lieutenant attached to Thung Kru police station.

However, he was dismissed from his post and stripped of his rank in 2006 after he faced a theft charge.

He later entered the monkhood at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in 2012 and left late last year.

Mr Rawipas said he was penniless and had no income.

He decided to raise money from donors via social media.

He said he used the money to buy a Mercedes-Benz, a luxury condominium in Huai Khwang district and alcohol.