BANGKOK, March 6 (TNA) — National Police Inspector General expanded the investigation and to request the court to issue an additional arrest warrant for a Chinese scam boss after finding that he is one of a ring leader.
Police believed that there were more than 1,000 Thais are still working across borders in scam centers. Police confirmed that after adjusting screening method, loopholes can be closed for whitewashing of Thai scammers.
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau on Wednesday bring 96 Thai suspects who were involved with the cyber scam network to request for the Ratchadapisek court’s order for detention.
They were earlier arrested in Cambodia’s Poipet and allegedly involved with the transnational organized crime, members of criminal syndicate, putting false information into computer systems and public fraud.
The suspects were detained during the crackdown operation against scammer center in Poipet of Cambodia on March 1. Thais who were involved with online crime are repatriated to Thailand for prosecution.
Pol Gen Thatchai Pitanilabut, National Police Inspector General and Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan, chief of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) jointly told the media about the progress of the investigation of 119 Thais who were arrested in Poi Pet and repatriated to Thailand for prosecution.
They confirmed that 100 Thais become the suspects of the transnational call center scams.
They said this gang used various ways to lure the victims including stock trading scam, romance scam, gambling websites.
The members of the gang also impersonate an electricity authority officers or land authorities to scam victims.
Among 119 Thais repatriated, 100 were prosecuted while 15 were cleared of any connection with the scam center in Poipet, but were involved with online gambling activities. The remaining four were juvenile and police were gathering evidences for further legal actions.
As for the hunting operation for the Chinese bosses, police found that there were three Chinese nationals who are ring leaders – command and control the payment.
They also supervised the operation this scammer center.
The police used composite drawings from the suspects’ descriptions to successfully issued two arrest warrants.
The police are gathering the evidences to request for the arrest warrant for the remaining Chinese ring leader.
After this, the police will coordinate with China to identify the three Chinese bosses as there are no records or any warrants issued by the INTERPOL.
The police admitted that the screening under National Referral Mechanism (NRM) could not proof who are the victims. In the past, there was no Thai was prosecuted which was a loophole for Thai criminals who returned to work as scammers repeatedly.
But the new screening measures, the authorities are confident that the Thai criminals will be arrested.
It is believed that estimated more than 1,000 Thais were still working across borders in scam centers to scam fellow Thai nationals.
Police said the operation to crack down on online scammer gangs in Myawaddy of Myanmar and measures to cut electricity, fuel delivery and Internet services since January are considered success as the cases are lower by 30 per cent.
The questioning of the victims from January 26- February 26, they confirm that they all travel to Myawaddy voluntarily with the intention to work in illicit activities. They were not forced or assault. (TNA).-813
