Cops arrest Singaporean fugitive

A Singaporean who fled to Thailand after allegedly hacking personal accounts on social media platforms in his country has been arrested in Bangkok.

A team of police arrested Ong Jian Zhen, 32, at a condo in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok, yesterday.

His girlfriend, Ananyalak Chuenjai, a 28-year-old Thai woman, was also arrested after officers found a sachet of crystal methamphetamine, two sachets of ketamine and one sachet of a drug called Erimin 5 in the room. Three bank books were also seized.

Mr Zhen was wanted under a warrant issued by the Sa Kaeo Provincial Court on Dec 19 for using a fake passport, Pol Col Phadol Chandorn, superintendent of the Technology Crime Suppression Division sub-division 5, said yesterday.

Earlier, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Singapore Police Force contacted Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, asking him to arrest Mr Zhen, who allegedly hacked personal social media accounts to buy goods online, said Pol Col Phadol.

On Oct 26, immigration police arrested the Singaporean for using a fake passport to enter the country. However, he was released on bail and absconded, said Pol Col Phadol.

Police began looking for him and learned of his whereabouts in Bangkok. They tracked him down to the room and arrested him and the Thai woman there.

The arrest team initially pressed charges against the suspect, as shown in the arrest warrant.

He and the woman were charged with possessing illicit drugs and were handed over to Sutthisan police.