BANGKOK — Thai police have arrested a Chinese man and a Thai accountant accused of helping a cross-border scam syndicate set up “mule companies” to launder money from online investment frauds that caused more than 20 million baht ($614,630) in losses.
After a three-month investigation, officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) apprehended 23-year-old Chinese national Zehu at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s arrival checkpoint in Samut Prakan province and Saipirun, 43, a Thai accountant, outside a business on Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district.
Both were wanted under arrest warrants issued August 15 on charges including public fraud by impersonation, membership in a criminal organization, computer crimes involving false data input, and money laundering.
Police said the arrests are linked to the Huione Pay network, a transnational scam ring that duped victims into investing in fraudulent applications. The scheme came to light after victims filed complaints about investment scams that collectively caused more than 20 million baht in damages.
The CCIB earlier detained three Myanmar nationals tied to the same network in Tak province’s Mae Sot district in July, seizing 46 million baht (1.4 million) in cash.
Investigators later traced the money flow to two companies registered with falsified information. According to police, Saipirun allegedly handled the incorporation paperwork and admitted during questioning that she was hired by Zehu to use Chinese nationals’ personal details to register fake firms and open corporate bank accounts.
She then sent account credentials and SIM cards used for one-time password verifications to Zehu, reportedly receiving 5,000 baht ($153) for each company.
Both suspects denied the charges, but police said digital evidence — including chat records — showed Zehu had sent personal data to Saipirun for use in setting up companies and bank accounts. Investigators found more than 10 such firms registered under the scheme, with their accounts later transferred to other Chinese members of the syndicate operating in Bangkok.
Police said the pair have been turned over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
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