Three people accused of using fake documents to obtain motorbikes and then stealing them have been arrested after allegedly victimizing a major Pattaya retailer 22 times.
Eakasit Pomkham, 36, Nukul Piriyapranee, 38, and Sathawat Porohoma, 26, were brought to a police news conference July 29 where Chonburi and Pattaya investigators showed off fake identification cards, bogus license plates and other counterfeited documents seized from the suspects.
The accused gang leader, Thongchai Apiyangkul, remains at large.
The arrests came after employees at Mityon Pattaya called police when Eakasit, acting suspiciously, tried to purchase a motorbike on an installment plan. Pattaya branch manager Supat Jaruruangpaisarn claimed he had done the same thing 22 times previously at various Mityon outlets and stolen 22 bikes. Employees apparently never caught on.
Police said Eakasit then ratted out his alleged accomplices during interrogation.
Eakasit said the 22-year-old gang leader would supply fake documents for 5,000-10,000 baht and he and his cohorts would approach motorbike rental shops and installment-plan sellers, then make off with the motorcycles and sell them to unsuspecting buyers.
