Ministry eyes unit to catch loan sharks

The Justice Ministry will ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to set up a special unit to tackle loan sharks after the arrest on Sunday of a major extortion suspect in Phetchaburi.

The raid on Chanphen Kaeomisi’s home, which led to the discovery of her alleged illegal business worth over 100 million baht, followed the earlier confiscation of assets worth 400 million baht belonging to the country’s largest loan shark network, allegedly led by Wichai Panngam, in Uthai Thani.

The authorities want to maintain momentum following the two big arrests and by forming a special unit drawing experts from various state agencies to crack down on other loan sharks operations.

“We will ask the prime minister to establish an integrated unit to better deal with unlawful lending that brings misery to a number of people,” permanent secretary for justice Dusadee Arayawuth said yesterday.

An integrated approach would see the National Council for Peace and Order, police, Department of Special Investigation, Revenue Department and the Interior Ministry working together to solve the problem, he said.

Pol Col Dusadee also said his ministry is also preparing to find ways to help loan shark victims, including those “fooled into borrowing” by the network led by Ms Chanphen, widely known as Sai Chattem.

An investigation found she gave loans to people by deceiving them into signing contracts to buy gold, when in fact there was no actual purchase, he said.

Police have charged Ms Chanphen with reaping benefits by lending money at high interest rates.

Her business is considered large in terms of circulating money, but investigators have found no connection between Ms Chanphen and Mr Wichai, who is still at large.

Ms Chanphen allegedly admitted to the offences. The 32-year-old suspect told officers she began the business eight years ago with only 90,000 baht.

Mr Wichai, 47, meanwhile, is accused of leading a network known as the Helmet Gang. He is suspected of owning properties, including 10 luxury houses, each valued at over 20 million baht in Uthai Thani’s Muang district.