Cops nab fugitive Japanese woman over fraud
Songkran clean-up drive prompts arrests
A fugitive Japanese woman accused of running a pyramid scheme fund which allegedly swindled over ¥700 million (about 217 million baht) in Japan has been arrested in Ubon Ratchathani, according to the Immigration Bureau (IB).
The bureau yesterday announced the arrest of Setsuko Yamabe, 62, in Warin Chamrap district of Ubon Ratchathani on March 30.
IB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Natthathorn Prousoontorn said she allegedly fled Japan to escape charges of defrauding people in a pyramid scheme fund, which, according to Japanese media reports, drove some victims to suicide.
The immigration police said records showed Ms Yamabe has been in and out of the country 15 times — the latest entry recorded on Jan 20 through Nong Khai using a tourist visa.
Pol Lt Gen Natthathorn said her visa has now been cancelled under the Immigration Act as she is deemed a dangerous person.
Ms Yamabe is listed by Japanese authorities as one of Japan’s most notorious leaders of a pyramid fund gang, which allegedly swindled more than ¥700 million from people in Japan. She is wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Kumamoto city on charges of violating the law pertaining to money deposits and investment.
The suspect allegedly persuaded potential victims to invest their money in the fund scheme, saying the funds would be extended as loans to companies for a profit. Her gang promised high returns and the victims were also duped into finding other customers for them.
Some victims lost a great deal of money and were under immense pressure. They later committed suicide, according to Japanese media reports.
Pol Lt Gen Natthathorn said Ms Yamabe’s arrest was made in a series of crackdowns on foreign criminal fugitives and suspects nationwide ahead of the Songkran festival which begins on April 13. The campaign is aimed at building confidence and boosting security for tourists during the long weekend next week.
According to the bureau, three Taiwanese suspects belonging to a call centre gang were nabbed in Bangkok in the middle of last month. They were identified as Jang Jin Wei, Lin Chin Hung and Yu Jing Jian who operated a call centre out of Indonesia. They fled to Thailand and set up a branch here.
On March 24, the Phuket immigration office arrested a Russian man, Matvey Shuvalov, 45, wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Interpol on fraud charges, and whose passport was revoked by the Russian authorities.
Three days later, a Norwegian man named Stig-asbjoern Indal was apprehended by the immigration police in Bangkok allegedly on charges of sexual violence in his home country. Interpol had put a warrant out for his arrest.
On March 28, the IB detained an American, Earl Bagley, who has allegedly been charged with sex-related offences in the US. The Thai authorities believed there was a risk he might be in the country to commit similar crimes.
On Saturday, an Israeli man, Yakov Elfasi, was caught by the immigration police in Bangkok. He is wanted by Israeli authorities for allegedly committing sex-related offences and producing fake documents.