The gig is up - police arrest
three Thai caretakers and 12 Taiwanese nationals on suspicion of running a
telephone-fraud ring.
Theerarat Suthathiwong
Police have broken up a second suspected Taiwanese
telephone-fraud ring, this time operating out of a Huay Yai compound.
Chonburi police and Transnational Crime Coordination
Center officers stormed a gated property containing a pair of two story
houses and a single-story home May 26. There officers arrested three Thai
caretakers and 12 Taiwanese nationals. They also seized 25 telephones, eight
laptop computers and networking gear.
Maj. Gen. Jumnong Rattanakul said police were tipped off
by neighbors to a large number of ethnic Chinese living on the grounds for
the past two weeks. Having busted another Taiwanese call center ring in
Naklua just three weeks earlier, police suspected the Huay Yai residence may
be playing host to another.
Police said group leader Chen Chin-Shan, 36, initially
denied operating a call center, saying the Taiwanese were there for a
holiday tour. Investigators, however, found medical visas, throwing
suspicion on their story. Then, police said, Chen attempted to bribe
officers 1.5 million baht, but investigators refused, booking them on
charges of fraud, theft and attempted bribery.
Under questioning, police said, Chen said a Mr. Lee
placed him in charge before fleeing the country May 23. It’s unknown if he
was connected to the Naklua call ring, which was raided May 4, resulting in
the arrest of two Thais and 26 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals.
