Golden Triangle Digest: Hump Day Edition, December 2nd, 2020
A big drug bust in the north. Online fraudsters and ponzi-schemes fall. Illegal tiger cubs rescued from zoo. A police chief goes on jealous rampage. And a throwback to quieter times. Strap in, folks.
To all expats and readers,
It’s been a wild week. Corona-virus is back in play in Thailand, as several karaoke girls snuck back into the country from Shan State, Myanmar.
Those headlines are dominating the news cycle and social media world, for obvious reasons. But the world still carries on. And that world is still full of twists and turns, schemes and bad actors. They didn’t go anywhere. They’re not hiding from the virus.
Take this headline from yesterday:
6 Charges Across Thailand for Various Computer Crimes and Online Fraud
When: December 1st, 2020
Where: Multiple provinces
Perpetrators: Multiple scammers
Victims: Hundreds
What: The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, in accordance with directives from the Prime Minister of Thailand, have launched investigations across the country to combat computer crime and online fraud.
The 6 cases that have been reported so far breakdown as follows:
A scammer, Miss Piyaporn, 29, persuaded more than 100 victims to join a ponzi-scheme sharing group, promising high returns. There were more than 100 victims, with damages valued at more than 10 million baht. She surrendered in Chiang Mai at the Saraphi police station.
A scammer, Mr. Thongpun, 29, used fake profile photos to open a Facebook account to defraud over 100 people. He sent messages out asking to borrow money, pretending to be somebody that was known to the victims. There were more than 100 victims and the damages totaled more than 170,000 baht.
A scammer, Ms. Charoennet, 34, defrauded 48 people by posting brand-name products on a Facebook page called Celebrity Brandname. They sold 5.2 million baht worth of product, which was never delivered.
A scammer, Mr. Khunthong, 24, and Mr. Phoka, 25, tricked people using Line app to send them money. No further details provided.
In Chiang Rai, two online gambling sites were taken down. 15 people were arrested.
In Udon Thani, two online gambling websites were taken down. 16 people were arrested, and a bank account valued at 15 million baht was seized.
My take: The financial scams and schemes around Thailand are varied. They impact the most vulnerable in society, who have the most to lose. Education is the best way to combat these scams. If you have a Thai partner or friend that's looking to invest in a share group, or buy cheap brand-name goods, do everything you can to steer them clear.
But the scams don’t stop there.
Not in the Land of Smiles.
In beloved Udon Thani, the source of so many of the dark-skinned beauts that wind up in Pattaya, another pyramid scheme unfolded.
It played on hopes, dreams, and duped the financially illiterate. It transpired as follows:
20 Million Scammed with Ponzi-Scheme in Udon Thani
When: December 1st, 2020
Where: Udon Thani district, Udon Thani
Perpetrators: Unnamed scammer
Victims: Up to 20+ people scammed
What: A ponzi-scheme where people are encouraged to "invest" in a group pot to later be paid out with greater funds than you put in has unraveled in Udon Thani. The scam is very popular and widespread throughout Thailand. This particular one was called "บ้านสามสหาย" in Thai, translating to "House of 3 Friends."
It works on the assumption that there will be new members coming into the scheme to finance the withdrawals of earlier members, who benefit from the additional streams of capital from the new members.
At the end of the day, the person who wins is the person at the top - the one who started the group.
Three girls came forth in Udon Thani to testify about their losses, which totaled 528,399 baht - split between them in 268,399 baht, 164,000 baht, and 99,000 baht losses.
Police estimate that 20+ others were scammed. Facebook posts from the scammer revealed recent purchases of luxury homes and cars. Police estimate up to 20 million baht in funds were squandered. The scammer is believed to still be in Thailand.
My take: I will make myself very clear. If your significant other or friend ever approaches you about a scheme like this, steer them away from it by any means necessary. It nearly always ends badly. Unless you're the one on the top. And if you have to ask, you're not.
The crooks didn’t stop with humans.
Another story out of Isaan, this time in Mukdahan, better known as the final layover on the Thai side before crossing into Laos to visit the Savannahkhet embassy.
Smuggling takes many forms. Drugs. Humans. Gems. And wildlife.
Thailand keeps over 1,100 tigers in captivity. And this story exposed a problem that may be endemic in the system:
5 Illegal Tiger Cubs Found in Mukdahan Zoo
When: November 30th, 2020
Where: Mukda Zoo, Tiger Zoo and Farm Bang Sai Yai Subdistrict Mueang Mukdahan District, Mukdahan Province
Perpetrators: Unknown
Victims: Illegally trafficked wildlife
What: A zoo in Mukdahan is under investigation for keeping tiger cubs that were obtained by illegal means. The Director General of National Parks in Thailand, Mr. Thanya Netithamakul, has instructed his administration to tighten control on illegal wildlife trafficking.
Several teams were involved in a two-year investigation, which was dismissed by a judge, to find trafficked wildlife in Thailand. They found evidence of illegally trafficked wildlife which included a variety of species including the red panda, various lemurs, and yellow turtles, along with tigers. The original Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 1992 did not protect wildlife from foreign countries, so a judge dismissed the initial investigation. Now the new Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019 covers foreign wildlife as well.
The team conducted DNA testing of five tiger cubs at the Mukdahan Zoo. The owner of the zoo claimed that the cubs were born from a tiger mother at the zoo. But the genetic results contradicted that claim and found no relation to the supposed tiger mom, nor 20 other tigers at the zoo. The team is now investigating all 1,511 tigers across the country that are kept in 32 different zoos. DNA testing will commence soon.
My take: Trafficking in illegal wildlife is very lucrative. Thailand is making the right moves to crack down on the practice, but all evidence points to the fact that it is endemic across zoos both here and in other countries.
Justice isn’t a foreign word in Thai.
Sometimes, crooks get what they deserve.
The court case for 18 motorcycle taxi drivers has concluded in Bangkok, year and a half after a brawl between two gangs saw a stray bullet strike down a Kerry courier driver.
I think the sentences were fair:
18 Motorcycle Win Drivers are Sentenced from 2019 Brawl that Killed Kerry Driver
The gang got what they deserved.
When: November 30th, 2020
Where: Udomsuk district, Bangkok province
Perpetrators: 18 defendants
Victims: Mr. Weerawat Pheungkrut, 20
What: The Win War has played out through the courts and 18 drivers are going away for a long time. Justice is finally served, albeit late, a whole year and a half after the brawl that saw motorcycle win drivers duke it out on the mean street of Udomsuk in Bangkok (see video here). The brawl wasn't just a public nuisance, sadly. A stray bullet came out of the skirmish, striking and killing an innocent Kerry courier bystander, only 20 years old.
The court handed down various sentences for the group of 18 defendants that are detailed as follows:
Mr. Rangsan, the 1st defendant, will be in prison for 24 years and 6 months, fined 2,500 baht
Mr. Jiraphong, the 2nd defendant, will be sentenced to 27 years and fined 5,000 baht
Mr. Phansak and Mr. Piya 3rd defendant. 4, 5 years imprisonment, 5,000 baht fine
Mr. Manop, 5th defendant, 6 years 8 months imprisonment, 6,666.66 baht fine
Mr. Prajak 6, 27 years imprisonment 10 months, 5,000 baht fine
Mr. Wanchai, 7th defendant probably 25 years imprisonment, 12 months fined 5,000 baht
Defendants 8-12 would be imprisoned for 4 years and 6 months, fined 2,500 baht
Defendants 13-18, 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 baht
Defendants 1-2, 6-7 together to pay the claimant amount of 280,000 baht with interest rate 7.5 percent per year from the date of filing (6 September 2019) until the payment is completed.
My take: When the news broke about the 20 year old Kerry driver getting struck down as an innocent bystander, I was gutted. This ruling might actually be a deterrent for future brawls between Win driver gangs.
Then again…
Just because you wear a uniform, doesn’t make you a saint.
Another story out of Isaan, this time Buriram, saw a police commander shoot three down: his ex-wife, her lover, and her lover’s wife in a restaurant while they were dining.
When opportunity meets motive, this happens:
Commander of Rural Police Station in Buriram Kills Ex-Wife and Two Others
When motivation meets opportunity, murder happens.
When: November 29th, 2020
Where: Non Suwan subdistrict, Non Suwan district, Buriram province
Perpetrators: Pol. Maj. Aam Sangchai, 44
Victims: Ms. Nucharin Kaewchaturat, 42 (ex-wife of perpetrator); Mr. Charan and Mrs. Sukwongsrawad, friends of ex-wife
What: The commander of a rural Buriram police station is in custody for the suspected murder of three individuals: his ex-wife and her two friends, a husband and wife couple. The shooting took place at a restaurant in Non Suwan, Buriram at 8PM on November 29th, 2020. The police commander suspected his ex-wife of having an affair with Mr. Charan, who was murdered at the restaurant while dining with her and his own wife. The murders leave family and relatives of the deceased grieving.
My take: A case of jealous husband that lost control. The motive is clear and the police commander did not hesitate to take down the people who he thought wronged him. His ex-wife was taken down, along with her suspected lover, and his wife - who on all accounts is the most innocent victim here.
The Boys in Brown aren’t all bad, of course.
Day in, day out, they work tirelessly on investigations that often last months, years, and don’t win them any celebrity.
Chiang Rai, the quiet northern province, saw a massive drug bust and property seizure this past week.
The Thai government is getting more strategic about its war on drugs. Will it be successful? We can’t say. The profit-motive will mean that others will fill the shoes of those syndicates that were taken down.
In any case, this is what went down:
Drugs and Property Valued at 361 Million Baht Seized in Chiang Rai
The network was a family affair; homes and land seized.
When: November 30th, 2020
Where:Wiang Pa Pao district, Chiang Rai
Perpetrators: 842 people involved in drug trade
Victims: A ton of addicts and yaba heads
What: The past week saw a massive operation in Northern Thailand to take down the drug network and syndicates that smuggle and distribute in the region. More than 200 officers - military and police - were involved in the operation.
A summary of the seized assets is as follows:
737,000 yaba tabs
82.5 kilos of meth
1.4 kilos of cannabis
85 cannabis plants
.7 kilos of heroin
14 guns
8 cars, 5 motorcycles
37 land plots
The investigation started after busting one Mr. Wiwatchai at an army checkpoint in Lampang province. Law enforcement then arrested Mr. Sungnoen with 2.8 million yaba tabs before expanding their search warrants to family and associates of Mr. Wiwatchai. His mother was even involved.
My take: Small busts often lead to massive cases. The drug networks are entrenched in some parts of the country. Oftentimes, it's a family business. The seizure of land, homes, vehicles, and other assets shows how serious the authorities in Thailand are to eradicating the networks. The problem is, the game is so profitable that when one syndicate is taken down, another takes its place.
And finally, a blast to the past.
From time to time, True Crime Thailand will be diving deep into the past. Thailand has a sordid and storied past, with legendary characters and scandalous crimes.
Our job is to deliver the best true crime content possible. That promise means that we will go anywhere, to any time, to find a good story. The past is rife with them. We’ll be mining historical sources and delivering these stories in scintillating prose.
We also pay respect to the legends. Bernard Trink fits that bill. Here’s an homage to the great Nite Owl:
The Archives: Bernard Trink Writes about Thais Assaulting Farang on Koh Samui
The Archives is a fun and informative exploration about historical and true crime stories from Thailand's past. The country has a storied and legendary history when it comes to sordid and true crime. We will be exploring the past and publishing our findings as we come across ones worthy of sharing.
Today, we go into the archives of Bernard Trink, from a column he wrote on February 15th, 1997.
Bernard Trink, the infamous columnist of The Nite Owl column in the Bangkok Post, wrote about a letter he received in 1997. The details went as follows.
A farang in Chiang Mai described how he took a late night walk along the road at Lamai Beach on Koh Samui. He was approached by three Thai men. Two of them chatted the farang up, and the third, using the other two as a partial screen, lunged over the top of them and plunged a knife into the chest of the farang - barely missing his lung.
The farang lost a lot of blood and barely survived. He was robbed, as well. A couple other farang were attacked that night on Koh Samui.
A reward was offered but nothing came of it. Police claimed it was the work of an outsider gang not native to the island. The letter asks Trink why the Bangkok Post didn't report on the crime.
Trink's response? The paper had reporters working in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and a few scattered upcountry, but not every province is covered. And that's the reason why the crime didn't hit the paper - it simply was an unknown.
Trink further relates how the Bangkok Post was accused for omitting crime stories as to not tarnish the image of the Kingdom, a claim he denies.
The same is said for True Crime Thailand. If there are breaking news or crime stories that you feel are relevant to your life in Thailand, feel free to share them here.
If you feel uncomfortable posting them, send me a private message, and I will find a way to get the info out.
What to expect going forward.
True Crime Thailand has a simple mission.
To deliver the best crime content in Thailand and southeast Asia, for expats and interested alike.
Here’s what you can expect from us:
A newsletter digest every Wednesday and Sunday, which will be a curation of our favorite crime stories from the week. The Wednesday newsletter, called Hump Day Edition, will also include a brief discussion of the inner workings of True Crime Thailand, our plans, goals, and what you can expect down the pike from us.
Our Facebook group, Thailand Crime and Breaking News in English, sees regular contributions of crime stories and a very engaged community.
We’re also dead set on being the primo source for info on the drug trade in South East Asia. You can expect a newsletter from us each week, delivered on Saturdays, that gets to the bottom of the trade. We will attack the subject on many fronts. Stay tuned for the first edition on Saturday December, 5th.
Because we’re batshit insane about crime writing, we don’t stop there. Every month we’re writing a short book about a topic of our choice. Sometimes, it will be about a historical crime in Thailand. Other times, it might be about the drug trade. Expect our first editing by year’s end.
If you have a friend that would like to receive these newsletters, please invite them.
If you have any comments, feel free to email me, or comment in this thread.
Until next time,
True Crime Thailand