Five Chinese Nationals Arrested for Extortion in Bangkok

Five suspected members of a Chinese extortion gang are taken before the media following their arrest at an apartment in Bangkok. The suspects are wanted by Chinese authorities on extortion and intimidation charges. SOMCHAI POOMLARD

 

BANGKOK – Police in Bangkok have arrested five Chinese men who allegedly extorted more than 100 million baht from businessmen before fleeing to Thailand from China.

Han Zhaoying, 21, together with the four other suspects, was nabbed in a raid on an apartment in Ratchadaphisek Soi 3 in Bangkok last Thursday, Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Panu Kerdlappol said Monday.

Their arrest followed a request from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok for help after the suspects fled to Thailand to avoid arrest in China.

Thai police could not arrest a sixth alleged gang member, Ji Jingxiu, 31, who was aware of the impending raid and left the country beforehand.

The gang is accused of sending emails to companies, threatening to use computer viruses to destroy their computer systems and websites. Many companies were coerced into paying the gang out of fear.