Missing Taiwan man linked to extortion, defamation case

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police are investigating the disappearance of a Taiwanese businessman last seen leaving a Bangkok mall in the company of some Thai men a week ago.

Simon Jiang, 58, has been out of contact since Nov 20, when he was spotted exiting the Central Lad Phrao shopping mall with several unidentified men, Pol Col Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy CSD commander, said yesterday.

CSD investigators were trying to determine who the men were and where they took the missing Taiwanese.

On Monday, businessman Suwat Santayodom, 57, filed a missing person complaint at the CSD. He said Mr Jiang was a close friend and operator of a charter flight and airline ticketing business.

He said Mr Jiang had access to confidential information about his compatriots’ business interests.

Pol Col Charoonkiart said initial inquiries suggested he had been whisked away to settle some secret business matter. The CSD deputy commander did not elaborate.

Investigators were working with immigration police in response to reports Mr Jiang may have entered Cambodia through an unpoliced pathway.

Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, the immigration bureau chief, said Mr Jiang was a suspect in a defamation and extortion case involving a Taiwanese compatriot. He had been arrested and was released on 200,000-baht bail.

He failed to report to the police on Nov 20, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said.