Police arrest a suspected Chinese scammer in Bangkok

A Chinese man alleged to have extensive connections with transnational scam syndicates in Cambodia and Myanmar was apprehended at a luxury house in the Krungthep Kreetha area of Bangkok yesterday.

The national police chief, Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, led a raid on the 43-million-baht residence to arrest the Chinese suspect, only identified as “Zhao”, against whom an Interpol red notice had been issued.

According to Thai police, “Zhao” is alleged to be involved in illegal gambling dens and scam syndicates and had escaped to Australia and Switzerland before settling down in Thailand. He also has adopted Cambodian nationality.

“Zhao” claimed that he bought the house with 43-million-baht in cash, but police said he actually bought the house through a broker, who advised him to contact a law office which, in turn, advised him to set up a nominee-held company with 51% Thai shareholding, as land ownership by non-Thais is strictly controlled and limited.

Pol. Gen. Samran said that police have checked the backgrounds of buyers of 94 luxury residences in four housing estates in Bangkok and discovered that they were connected to 95 suspected nominee companies involving 156 Thai nominees.

He said police have used digital footprint tracing to discover who facilitated the registration of nominee companies so legal action can be taken against them.