Chiang mai: An investigation team from Region 9, alongside Chiang Mai police, conducted a raid leading to the arrest of a gang member involved in the kidnapping of a young woman and her boyfriend, demanding a ransom of 500,000 baht, and assaulting them. Currently, one suspect remains at large out of a total of nine arrest warrants.
According to Thai News Agency, officers from Provincial Police Region 9, in conjunction with Chang Phueak Police Station, executed a raid that resulted in the arrest of Mr. Kittipot, known as Games, aged 31. He was apprehended at his residence in Yang Noeng Subdistrict, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province. Mr. Games was implicated in the abduction incident which took place on August 6, 2024, in Satun Province, and was blacklisted by the Royal Thai Police with a bounty of 80,000 baht for information leading to his capture.
The case originated on the night of August 6, 2014, when five men in a pickup truck abducted Ms. Chanjira from her home in Village No. 3, Kamphaeng Subdistrict, La-ngu District, Satun Province. The perpetrators transported her to a cattle pen in Huai Yot District, Trang Province, where she was coerced into calling her boyfriend, Mr. Abhisit, to meet her. Both victims were subjected to brutal attacks, including being beaten with baseball bats and having a gun pointed at them, as the attackers demanded 500,000 baht for their release. The group managed to withdraw 225,700 baht from an ATM, but continually threatened the victims with deportation to Burma if they failed to secure the full ransom.
While awaiting the ransom, the attackers persistently assaulted Mr. Abhisit, using physical violence and weapons. On August 9th, the victims were moved to Chiang Rai Province. Relatives of the victims sought police assistance, leading to the interception of some attackers in Phetchaburi Province and the successful rescue of both victims.
Following the investigation, nine arrest warrants were issued, including one for Mr. Games. He confessed to his involvement but claimed he attempted to protect Mr. Abhisit from further harm. Mr. Games expressed a desire to surrender but feared being denied bail, prompting his flight to Chiang Mai Province.
Subsequently, police transported Mr. Games to Saraphi Police Station in Chiang Mai Province to document the arrest before transferring him to Langu Police Station in Satun Province, where the crime occurred. He faces charges of "jointly engaging in an attempt to obtain ransom, taking a person over twenty-five years of age, using deception, threats, violence, abuse of power, or other means of coercion, or detaining or confining a person."