BANGKOK — Iranian man arrested in Bangkok for tricking Russian woman to show money before snatching it. This case is similar to the incident where an Iranian couple snatched money from a Chinese tourist around the same time.
On September 22, police officers from Thung Mahamek Police Station in Bangkok arrested Mr. Saber, a 41-year-old Iranian national, on charges of “theft at night” under a warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court. The arrest took place at Marvin Suites Hotel, Soi Sathorn 11, Yannawa Subdistrict, Sathorn District, Bangkok.
The arrest follows an incident on September 15 when a female Russian tourist reported that she had been robbed in front of the Ibis Hotel on Silom Road. A foreign man had approached her, asking to see the money in her purse. When she opened it, he grabbed the money and immediately fled.
Detectives from Thung Mahamek Police Station investigated by reviewing CCTV footage and identified the suspect as an Iranian national. They then obtained an arrest warrant from the court. During questioning, the suspect admitted to the crime, stating that he took the money only for daily expenses.
However, officers will continue the investigation as the behavior is similar to a previous case where an Iranian suspect asked to see a Chinese tourist’s money before snatching it as well.
On September 17, Thonglor Police Station officers arrested Mr. Mohammad, 29, and Ms. Ali, 41, both Iranian nationals, in front of a condominium in Yanawa subdistrict, Sathorn district, Bangkok. They were suspected of stealing from a Chinese tourist.
Police investigation revealed that the pair approached Chinese tourists standing in front of a hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 20, pretending to be friendly. They engaged in conversation about currency exchange and asked to see the tourist’s cash. After returning the money, some was missing. The Chinese tourists later discovered that 10,000 baht had disappeared and filed a report at Thonglor Police Station.
After reviewing CCTV footage, officers traced the suspects’ escape route to the aforementioned condominium. They were arrested while preparing to flee back to their home country.
According to Thai law, theft committed at night carries a heavier punishment than theft committed during the day. The offender shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of one to five years and a fine of twenty thousand to one hundred thousand baht.
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