BANGKOK — A South Korean man was arrested for overstaying his visa, but upon investigation, police discovered he was a fugitive wanted for fraud and sentenced to prison.
According to the Immigration Bureau’s press conference on September 26, immigration officers arrested Mr. Lee (pseudonym), a 36-year-old South Korean national whose permission to stay in the kingdom had expired. They also found he had a criminal record for fraud, with damages totaling 300 million won or $226K, before fleeing to hide in Thailand.
The arrest came after the Immigration Bureau’s investigation team received a tip from an informant about a suspicious foreigner frequently seen in Soi Rom Pradoo, Bang Phli Yai Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. The informant suspected the individual was staying in Thailand illegally.
Investigation revealed that the foreigner in question was Mr. Lee, 36, a South Korean national who had overstayed his visa by 93 days. Authorities coordinated with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Thailand to check his background and found that Mr. Lee had a criminal record for fraud.
Information from South Korea indicated that Mr. Lee had opened a private detective agency and deceived others by claiming he could assist with various legal cases. Multiple victims fell for his scam, resulting in total damages of 300 million won. A South Korean court had sentenced him to two years in prison, after which Mr. Lee fled to Thailand.
Later, investigators learned that Mr. Lee would be traveling to a company parking lot in Soi Rom Pradoo, Bang Phli Yai Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. They set up surveillance and made the arrest, identifying themselves as immigration police officers.
Mr. Lee was charged with being a foreigner overstaying his visa (Overstay) and was handed over to the investigating officers at Bang Phli Police Station for further legal proceedings.
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