Teerarak Suthathiwong
A week after two Iranians used stolen passports to buy tickets in
Pattaya for the doomed Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, another Iranian has
been arrested in Pattaya for using a fake passport to allegedly steal a
rental car.
Heidar
Alirezaei was been arrested and charged with multiple offenses revolving
around using a fake passport to steal and sell a rental car.
Heidar Alirezaei, 56, was taken into custody after staff at car-rental shops
on Soi Chalermprakiet 23 detained him March 15. Police found a fake Italian
passport, Laos passport and various business cards on him.
Pattarawadee Homkhajornthanathorn, 54, told police Alirezaei had used a
passport under the name of Italian Damarco Celso Alfonso, 50, to rent a
Toyota pickup truck from her J’Da Car Rent March 11, but had not returned
the vehicle. Furthermore, she tracked the truck’s Global Positioning System
tracker across the border to Laos near Nakhon Phanom and told other Pattaya
agents to beware of the Iranian, whom she suspected of auto theft.
Alirezaei then appeared next door at Super Star Car Rent March 15 and owner
Aran Singhsakda, 66, called her to say Alirezaei was trying to rent a Toyota
Fortuner. When she arrived, he tried to flee, but was subdued by Super Star
staff.
Alirezaei’s arrest came a week after an Iranian booked two tickets in
Pattaya for fellow countrymen using stolen passports, including one from an
Italian in Phuket. The incident has shone an intense spotlight on Thailand’s
thriving black market for fake and stolen passports.
Alirezaei initially denied the theft charges, saying he wasn’t yet required
to return the car. But under heavy questioning, the Iranian eventually
confessed to having sold the vehicle in Laos for the equivalent of 150,000
baht, police said. He also claimed to have bought the fake Italian passport
for 30,000 baht.
Lt. Col. Ratchthapong Tiasud said Alirezaei had entered Thailand at the Nong
Khai-Laos crossing on June 21, 2012 under a temporary-residence visa, which
expired Feb. 27, 2013. He had disappeared after that.
The Iranian, who said he runs a dental braces shop with his Laotian wife,
said he was staying in Nonthaburi, but came to Pattaya to get another car,
doubting he’d be recognized again.
Police said his Laotian passport carried his real name, but were
investigating the document, along with a fake international driver’s
license, and other documents they confiscated. Police suspect he is part of
a trans-national auto-theft ring.
In the interim, he was charged with faking passports, possession or usage of
fake documents, immigration charges and auto theft.
