7 fugitives, wanted on offenses from pedophilia
to drug dealing arrested in Pattaya & Bangkok
Police announce the arrest of
several international fugitives captured in Pattaya and Bangkok.
Boonlua Chatree
Reconfirming how often international criminals think they can use
Thailand as safe haven from the law, Chonburi Immigration Police announced
the arrest of seven fugitives wanted on offenses ranging from child
molestation to drug dealing to embezzlement.
At a Nov. 13 press conference, arrests in Pattaya of two Russians, an
Iranian and a Malaysian in Pattaya where announced, along with the capture
of a Dutchman and a South Korean in Bangkok. Immigration officials also
announced the arrest of 11 Nigerians and Ghanians on visa violations in
Bangkok.
Both Russians - Artem Uvarov and Iurii Kuzmin - were wanted in Russia for
alleged large-scale drug dealing. Both had relocated to Thailand and begun
new lives. Uvarov worked in Pattaya as a well-known deejay going by the name
of “Alex Tiff.” He was apprehended on Soi Siam Country Club along with
Kuzmin, who also was wanted in Phuket on drug charges.
Iranian Alireza Sa-idi, 38, was captured with the help of military police at
Rattanakorn Village on Soi Sukhumvit 53 where he allegedly was running a
human-trafficking ring, smuggling children into Japan, Australia, Canada and
Europe. Three Iranians awaiting transport to a third country were rescued.
The Malaysian captured, Thai Dong Jeng, was wanted by Pattaya police for
allegedly using fake credit cards to buy 148,289 baht in smartphones at a
Sukhumvit Road store. He’d been arrested in October for the same offense.
The Bangkok arrests were topped by the capture of wanted Dutch pedophile,
Pascal Theodorus Jacobus Gelen, 40, at his home in Samut Prakan. He escaped
custody after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for molesting a child
under age 12 in Laivarden, Netherlands. He had fled to Thailand and was
working as the managing director for Stock Lot Trading Co., an export firm
doing business with Dutch importers.
Another fugitive, Jang Langkee, 48 of South Korea, was taken at a Bangkok
bus stop and will be shipped home to face charges of embezzlement.
