Cops crash in on used car dealer

Police arrested a 21-year-old used car dealer in Pathum Thani yesterday for allegedly deceiving people into buying vehicles without registration certificates and failing to deliver licence plates with “lucky numbers” to his customers as promised.

The arrest came a day after the victims and their lawyer petitioned the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to track down Thanabodi Jitta, the car dealer. Mr Thanabodi was wanted on charges of fraud under an arrest warrant approved by Uttaradit Provincial Court on Aug 16.

Officers managed to arrest Mr Thanabodi at an apartment in Lam Luk Ka about 1pm.

According to the police, investigators were instructed to track down the suspect following the petition. They received information yesterday that the used car dealer was hiding in the apartment, which led to his arrest.

Mr Thanabodi said he had no intention of deceiving the victims, according to police.

Referring to the sale of licence plates bearing lucky numbers, Mr Thanabodi allegedly told police he acted only as a dealer.

He said once the customer paid him for the plate numbers, the sum was wired to the owner of the numbers, named “Kae”.

Kae however failed to deliver the plates to him and later could not be reached, Mr Thanabodi said.

He denied an accusation of supplying cars without registration certificates, adding he had informed his customers these were pawned vehicles from owners who had failed to redeem them, and these vehicles came without registration certificates.

He denied allegations that he threatened the victims.

According to police, Mr Thanabodi also faces an embezzlement charge based on a warrant for his arrest issued on July 3 by Bangkok North Municipal Court.