Chinese tells ministry he was set up

A businessman from China charged with stealing information from a website in violation of the Computer Crime Act has sought legal help from the Ministry of Justice, claiming he was duped.

Dusadee Arayawuth, deputy permanent secretary for justice said Mo Quijin, 49, a businessman from China’s Hunan province, met him yesterday seeking legal help.

Mr Mo claims he was duped into investing in a residential project in Thailand as well as a transportation business operating between Thailand and China by another Chinese man with the surname Wang, Pol Col Dusadee said.

He said the suspect wants to return to his home country and he agreed to help by asking the provincial police commander in Pathum Thani to investigate.

In relaying Mr Mo’s account of what happened, Pol Col Dusadee said Mr Wang claimed to be a member of a Thai-Chinese Investment Promotion Association.

He invited Mr Mo to Thailand and met him at Don Mueang International Airport on April 12.

According to the suspect, Mr Wang then took him to an office where he invited Mr Mo to negotiate a business deal with a man called Wang Gua Bing, who claimed to be the vice-president of the association.

But the suspect said the conditions of the deal had changed from the original offer, and he declined.

On April 14, Mr Wang said he would present Mr Mo with another deal and he consented to this arrangement, Mr Mo said.

But instead, the presumed broker took him to Pratunam Chulalongkorn police station in Pathum Thani, where Mr Mo was charged with violating the Computer Crime Act, he said.

The police had received a complaint against Mr Mo accusing him of stealing information from a website, he said, adding that he denied the accusation against him.

Mr Mo said he sought help from the Chinese embassy in Thailand after he was detained by Thai authorities for two days.

Mr Mo and his lawyer met investigators at Pratunam Chulalongkorn police station yesterday.

The probe continues.