Svein
Tore Holtekjolen (left) stares down the failed kidnappers.
Boonlua Chatree
Police are searching for two Bangkok men who allegedly
bankrolled the failed Christmas Day kidnapping of a wealthy Norwegian real
estate owner.
Svein Tore Holtekjolen, 57, fought off five men
masquerading as police officers in a 3 a.m. ambush on Second Road near Soi
Diana. The owner of an estimated 200 million baht in condominiums in Pattaya,
Holtekjolen was known to carry large amounts of cash, as well as an
“unlimited withdrawal” ATM card. He told friends he believed the kidnappers
wanted to drain his bank account and then kill him.
A
police sketch of Apichat “Tai” Chanprakhon, one of the men wanted for
questioning regarding the kidnap attempt.
About 30 minutes after the attack, Pattaya police
captured the crew of northern Thailand men after they crashed their getaway
car into a baht bus in Jomtien Beach. Under interrogation, they confessed,
claiming to have been contracted by Apichat “Tai” Chanprakhon, who himself
was reportedly hired by one of the Norwegian’s former business partners.
Pattaya Police on Dec. 26 obtained an arrest warrant for
Apichat and released a composite sketch of the unidentified former business
partner. Meanwhile, Pran Ratprakhon, 39, of Buriram; Prayad Silakul, 44, of
Chiang Mai; Pairoj Runagnarong, 37, of Buriram; Wittaya Chantuek, 39, of
Ubon Ratchathani; and Prasert Tawanwet, 35, of Buriram were being held on
attempted kidnapping charges. A sixth man, identified only as Nat, escaped
after stopping the baht bus and is still at large.
Police
released this sketch of “Nat”, who they believe bankrolled the attempted
kidnapping.
The drama unfolded after Holtekjolen and his son had been
riding home from Walking Street in a baht bus with two other Thai men. As
they approached Soi Diana, one of the Thais rang the bell to stop the taxi
while a blue Toyota Corona pulled up behind.
Holtekjolen told friends that suddenly, the other Thai
pushed him out of the truck, sending him crashing into the Toyota. Four men
then jumped from the car and tried to pull the Norwegian inside.
A big man, Holtekjolen was able to fight off his
assailants, but not until he got a look inside the Toyota. Waiting for him
were handcuffs, tape and a canvas sack.
Holtekjolen’s resistance and his son’s shouts for help
alerted witnesses and panicked the kidnappers, who fled down Soi 13/2 and
south along Beach Road. Police found the suspects fleeing down Thappraya
Road where they crashed into a baht bus near the View Talay 2 condominium
project. The men then attempted to escape on foot, but were captured about
500 meters from the collision.
Inside the Toyota police recovered handcuffs, cutting
tools, two rolls of duct tape, a razor and canvas car cover. The car also
bore fake license plates. Holtekjolen later identified two of the men who
claimed to be police officers.
Under questioning, Pran told investigators they’d been
hired by Apichat for 50,000 baht each to abduct the Norwegian. Apichat, in
turn, was reportedly hired by an unidentified Thai man in his 50s, about 160
cm. tall, fat, tanned and with short hair, about 50-55 years of age.
Apichat and the kidnappers planned their ambush while
staying at the Chaba Hut motel on Soi Buakaow and, Pran said, Apichat
trailed the suspects in his own truck on the night of the attempted
abduction.
The mystery man behind the entire plot is believed to be
real estate developer who Holtekjolen had invested 5 million baht with. The
deal, however, went bad and Thai developer reportedly refused to repay the
Norwegian. Holtekjolen then filed a case with authorities to recover the
funds.
The alleged kidnappers were told Apichat’s boss wanted to
abduct Holtekjolen for ransom in retribution for going to police as well as
to pay off gambling debts.
