Cops zero in on parents of ‘dowry thief’

Police will interview the parents of a woman whom local media have dubbed the “runaway bride” as she stands accused of cheating at least a dozen men out of their dowries, officials said yesterday, adding they will also summon other individuals linked to the case.

Four people have been questioned by Crime Suppression Division police probing claims against Jariyaporn Buayai, 32, who resides in Loei near the Laos border, and who allegedly tricked 12 men into marrying her to profit from their dowries. In each case she took off with the spoils after the wedding ceremony, police said. Seven men have filed complaints against Ms Jariyaporn, accusing her of fraud.

A CSD source said more people, including Ms Jariyaporn’s parents, will be quizzed as they allegedly attended their daughter’s weddings. Police suspect they may have been complicit. Another woman from the province, identified as Soypet Paleewan, will be called in after police found the dowries had been wired to her bank accounts.

On Tuesday, lawyer Songkran Achariyasap brought some of alleged victims to lodge a complaint against Ms Jariyaporn with CSD deputy chief Suwat Saengnoom. The CSD source said Ms Jariyaporn, originally from Sa Kaeo, appears to be addicted to gambling and often crossed the border from Sa Kaeo to casinos in Cambodia. Police suspect her primary motive for conning her paramours was to pay off her gambling debts.

Records show Ms Jariyaporn used to work as a store room clerk at the tambon Ban Nahaew municipal office in Loei. She was alleged to have swindled money from residents by falsely claiming she could get them a job at the office for a fee of between 100,000 and 130,000 baht. However, she could not secure the jobs as promised and fraud complaints were pressed against her. The charges led to her dismissal in 2012.

CSD commander Pol Maj Gen Suthin Sappuang said police are hunting for Ms Jariyaporn as she is wanted in five provinces for a slew of criminal offences.