PATTAYA, Thailand – Police have arrested five Indian nationals accused of kidnapping and assaulting three fellow Indian tourists in Pattaya in an alleged extortion plot, after tracking them to a Bangkok hotel where they were preparing to flee the country. The suspects were arrested at a hotel in Khlong Tan, Bangkok, while waiting for flights out of Thailand following an investigation by Pattaya police, Chonburi Immigration officers and related units.
The five suspects were identified as Indian nationals aged between 24 and 38. They were taken to Pattaya Police Station for questioning after being linked to the abduction of three Indian tourists who had travelled to Pattaya through a tour package. The victims were rescued from a house in Nongprue, East Pattaya, after allegedly being held against their will, assaulted and threatened for ransom.
During questioning, police said the suspects admitted involvement and claimed they were acting under instructions from a Pakistani mastermind based in Dubai. Investigators said the group was allegedly provided with victims’ travel details, including flight information and passport details, before carrying out the operation. Police allege the suspects were instructed to collect digital currency payments from the victims and transfer the funds to a digital wallet controlled by the mastermind. Cash found on the victims was allegedly taken by the group.
Authorities said the suspects had prepared airline tickets to leave Thailand but were arrested before they could escape. The five suspects were charged with jointly demanding ransom through unlawful detention and threats, armed robbery using a vehicle to facilitate the crime, and unlawfully restricting another person’s freedom. Police continue investigating possible links to other individuals involved in the alleged operation.
Earlier Report: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-house-raid-frees-three-bound-indian-tourists-559157
