3 charged over ‘extortion’ scam

Three Middle Eastern men have been charged with extorting money from a Syrian father in exchange for the freedom of his son, who was arrested for overstaying in Thailand.

The foreigners were identified Kasal Wakiao, 27, from Syria; Islam Ahmed Ghonemi Seoudi, 32, from Egypt; and a Lebanese man, identified as Daou Bassem.

The first two were apprehended in Bangkok yesterday while Mr Bassem remains at large.

Mr Wakiao was detained in Sukhumvit Soi 4 in Bangkok’s Klong Toey district and Mr Soudi in the car park at the Nasa Vegas Hotel in Suan Luang district.

They were taken before a news briefing, also attended by Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Sanit Mahathavorn, at Lumpini police station yesterday.

The arrests came after Mohammad Yasser Al-Halabi, 47, on Monday petitioned the Justice Ministry, claiming Lumpini police volunteers extorted money from him in exchange for the release of Mohammad Wael Al-Halabi, his 23-yearold son who was earlier arrested for overstaying his visa.

On being questioned, the suspects said the conflict stemmed from a personal matter between Mr Soudi and the younger Mr Halabi, who were infatuated with the same woman.

In a fit of jealousy, Mr Soudi lodged a false complaint with Lumpini police, accusing Mr Halabi of being involved in narcotics.

He was arrested by police, who later found he was not involved with illegal drugs. However, he was instead detained for overstaying in the country.

Pol Lt Gen Sanit said the suspects earlier worked as Arabic translators for the station but they were not police volunteers.

The MPB chief insisted no Lumpini police were involved in the racket, and said the suspects never claimed they were police.