‘Old-school’ villainy runs riot
Hide your money — kidnapping for ransom is on the rise again in Thailand, writes Wassayos Ngamkham
The arrest of four Thais embroiled in the abduction of two cosmetics businessmen who were held for a 5-millionbaht ransom this month is another case of an “old-school” crime which has affected both Thais and foreigners in Thailand.
The first three suspects were apprehended by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police at a housing development in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang district on March 18, while another was detained at a house in Lat Pla Khao area in Lat Phrao district of Bangkok.
They are Kampan Thonkoh, 51; Krissada Prawiset, 47; Somchai Meesat, 37; and Jitratda Hemsida, 43, an Udon Thani resident who is Mr Kampan’s wife.
More than 600 fake 1,000baht banknotes were confiscated from the first three men while crystal meth was seized from Ms Jitratda.
Earlier, posing as a client, Ms Jitratda had contacted the businessmen to buy their land in Chanthaburi. She told the victims to meet her at a fake office in Bang Bung district, Chon Buri, to discuss the purchase.
Upon their arrival, three men wearing masks appeared with guns and demanded five million baht from the victims in exchange for their freedom.
During the incident, one of the suspects spoke on the phone with an unidentified person who police believe was the mastermind behind the crime.
The victims tried to negotiate with the kidnappers but failed. They were forced into the suspects’ Toyota sedan and headed to Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima. One suspect also drove a BMW sedan which belonged to one of the victims.
On the way, they threatened to kill both men if they failed to come up with the ransom. The gang also forced the businessmen to withdraw 100,000 baht from an ATM and took 30,000 baht in cash and valuables from them.
After entering Ayutthaya, the victims told the suspects they wanted to go to toilet. The gang stopped by a petrol station in Wang Noi district. The victims managed to escape by seeking help from a passerby.
The suspects left them at the gas station and sped away.
Both victims later lodged a complaint with Wang Noi police which sought help from the CSD on March 10.
A probe was jointly conducted by Ayutthaya police and CSD investigators. They examined footage from CCTV cameras at the petrol station and nearby roads believed to be used as escape routes by the suspects.
The suspects told police they rented a room in Ban Bung district and turned the place into a fake office to lure both victims.
Pol Col Boonlue Phadungthin, chief of the CSD’s subdivision 3 which is handling the case, said the crime was orchestrated by one or two masterminds who were also in the cosmetics business.
They could be acquaintances of the victims as they knew their personal information.
Besides this case, several other Thais and foreigners have also been kidnapped in Thailand.
On March 6 police officers, led by Tourism Police Bureau deputy commissioner Surachate Hakparn, detained Ko Tek Chuan, a Singaporean man who was allegedly linked with the abduction of an airline owner in Udon Thani.
The businessman was kidnapped by Mr Ko and other 13 accomplices, including Thai police, soldiers and civilians, who said he was involved in a national security affairs case and demanded 20 million in ransom from him in July last year.
The victim gave two million baht to the suspects who were later apprehended. Mr Ko was released on bail and fled overseas.
However, the latest probe found he had returned to Thailand.
Police believe he is preparing to commit another crime.
In June last year, Thai authorities rescued Watanabe Zinami, a Japanese medical equipment businessman who was kidnapped and tortured by three former subordinates at a room in an apartment on Soi Thong Lor in Bangkok.
Mr Watanabe was found tied to a bed with electric cables. His right leg was broken and his left leg and torso had sustained severe bruises after the three repeatedly hit him with a baseball bat.
He was later admitted to Bumrungrad International Hospital.
The three suspects told investigators under questioning they committed the crime because they had a grudge against the victim who earlier found they had embezzled a large amount of money.
The suspects were sacked from the company. Legal action was also taken against them and they were required to pay 15 million yen in compensation.
In August last year, three Indian men were also arrested in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, after they allegedly lured several of their compatriots to Thailand and demanded ransoms from their families.
They promised the victims a job in Canada. Instead, they were taken to Thailand.
The arrests came after Tandal MD Jeesanuddin, 29, earlier lodged a complaint with Suvarnabhumi police in July, saying his brother-in-law and two Indian friends had been kidnapped by the gang which had demanded 1.5 million to secure their freedom.
The three victims were later rescued by Thai authorities and legal action was brought against the trio.
The case continues.