Four Thai immigration officers are facing arrest after allegedly abducting a Chinese national and extorting thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency. According to reports, the Chinese man, along with his female interpreter, was kidnapped by the officers after falling victim to a scam.
The victim was reportedly lured into a fake investment scheme and lost a significant amount of money. The immigration officers then approached him and demanded a ransom of nearly US$30,000 in cryptocurrency, threatening to deport him if he didn’t comply.
Thai deputy police commissioner Surachate Hakparn said that they have applied for an arrest warrant of the kidnappers and they will ensure that the four officers who are responsible for committing the crime will face the law. Their names have not yet been released, but he said three of them are holding a senior rank in the immigration bureau.
According to police commissioner Surachate, three suspects have been taken in for questioning in relation to the case, but one suspect is still at large. He also stated that they will be applying for arrest warrants after collecting enough evidence to prove their involvement in the crime.
Earlier a Chinese businessman reported to the police after his wife and sibling were abducted in Chonburi province, southeast of Bangkok. According to reports, the victims were on their way home on Monday after dropping off the man’s child at an international school in the Bang Lamung area when a motorcycle-riding assailant hit their vehicle and fled the scene.
The businessman later received a ransom call, demanding one million yuan (equivalent to $145,500) in exchange for the release of his family. The suspect reportedly instructed the businessman to transfer the ransom money in cryptocurrencies.
The businessman complied and sent 200,000 yuan (nearly $30,000) in cryptocurrencies to the suspect. However, the whereabouts of his family members are still unknown, and a search operation is currently underway to locate them.
The case has sparked outrage and condemnation from both the Chinese and Thai communities, with many calling for justice to be served. The Thai government has vowed to take swift action and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
