BANGKOK – Recently, three men stormed into a hotel in Soi Prachasongkroh 2, also known as Soi Suttipong, Din Daeng District, Bangkok. They abducted five Chinese nationals from their rooms and pretended to be police officers. The suspects then extorted 65,000 USDT, equivalent to about 2.5 million Thai Baht, from the victims.
On 6 May 2024, Din Daeng police arrested two suspects involved in the gang: Mr. Zhu Lin Su, also known as “Hia Kao,” for charges of extortion, impersonating a public official, unlawful detention, and coercion. The other suspect, Mr. Yang Qiujian, was arrested for receiving stolen property.
The investigation revealed that the gang, led by Mr. Zhu Lin Su, targeted Chinese nationals visiting Thailand. Once a target was identified, the gang would collaborate with a group of fake police officers to carry out their plan.
When the victims contacted a Lao gang to arrange a ransom exchange using credit card swiping, Ms. Jaruneth prepared a card reader and met with the victims. She then coordinated with the police, led by Pol. Sgt. Maj. Weerayuth and Pol. Lt. Attawut, to stage the operation. The gang included two Chinese nationals, Mr. Jianbiao Wu and Mr. Zhu Lin Su (who had already obtained Thai citizenship under the name Mr. Chayakorn Su).
They detained the victims in a white Toyota Camry (the getaway car) and threatened them that swiping their credit cards once would result in a 7-year prison sentence. The suspects then took the victims to a shooting range to meet Pol. Lt. Attawut, who posed as the “boss” and a “police officer.” They then provided the victims with a QR code to transfer USDT cryptocurrency into the gang’s digital wallets.
Mr. Zhu Ling Su confessed to his involvement in the extortion scheme. He stated that Mr. Yang received USDT digital transfers from the suspects into his own digital wallet, converted them into Thai baht, and then transferred the funds to the gang members. The breakdown of the distribution is as follows: 700,000 baht to Pol. Sgt. Maj. Weerayuth, 700,000 baht to Mr. Naphasin, and 748,300 baht to Mr. Jianbiao Wu.
The investigation revealed that a total of 10 individuals were involved in the crime. Investigators have obtained arrest warrants for all 10 suspects and have arrested 7 of them. The remaining 3 suspects are still at large, and authorities are actively pursuing them.
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