BANGKOK — Thai immigration police have apprehended a Chinese national wanted for a massive embezzlement case involving 2.4 billion yuan (approximately $310 million) who had been hiding in central Bangkok under a false identity.
Police Major General Prachya Prasansuk, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, revealed details of the arrest on March 22. Acting on intelligence reports about a Chinese national named Zhang Wei (alias) who had potentially violated immigration laws, officers utilized biometric database verification to investigate.
The biometric system flagged significant facial similarities between Zhang Wei and another individual identified as Du Nan, who held Vanuatu citizenship—a small island nation in Oceania. Investigators concluded they were the same person and began monitoring both accommodation registrations and visa extension applications.
On March 12, when Du Nan’s authorized stay expired without any extension request, authorities detected movement at a luxury hotel in the Ratchaprasong area. Officers staked out the hotel lobby and elevator area, but the suspect avoided detection by ordering room service rather than coming downstairs.
The breakthrough came on Friday, March 21, around 2:30 PM when Du Nan finally appeared in the lobby. When approached by officers who requested to see his passport, he denied being Chinese and claimed his passport was lost, showing only a photo of a Vanuatu passport with an expired 60-day tourist visa. He was initially detained for overstaying his visa.
Further investigation in coordination with international law enforcement agencies confirmed that Du Nan, operating under the name Zhang Wei, was involved in embezzling funds from a prominent construction company in Shandong Province in northeastern China, with damages totaling 2.4 billion yuan (approximately 11 billion baht). The case has been forwarded to relevant authorities for further legal proceedings.
Police Major General Prachya emphasized that the biometric system was instrumental in the successful arrest, along with crucial tips received through mandatory foreign resident registration regulations. He reminded the public about the importance of reporting foreign residents to immigration authorities as required by law.
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