NONG KHAI, Nov 4 – Thai immigration police here arrested a co-founder of Pirate Bay who had been in hiding in Laos.
His website illegally shares famous movies worldwide.
Pol Maj Gen Chatichai Iemsaeng, chief of Immigration Division 4, said Hans Fredrik Lennart Neij, 36, was arrested at the immigration checkpoint as he wore the same shirt in the picture of the warrant for his arrest.
The Swede reached the Thai immigration checkpoint on the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge on a vehicle with a Lao woman. He said he was about to buy consumer products in Nong Khai.
Interpol wanted him for running running the pirate website together with three other persons. Internet users could download pirated movies worldwide free of charge, but they earned cash from advertisements on the site.
Intellectual Property Rights damage of the illicit business is estimated at 1.2 million kronor — about Bt5.3 million.
A Swedish court sentenced him to 10-month imprisonment and a fine of US$5 million or about Bt160 million baht.
He jumped bail and escaped to Laos where he has a local wife.
He had visited Thailand from Laos 27 times before the arrest.
Two months ago two accomplices were arrested in Cambodia and the other is still at large.
Patarawit Pothiwat, representing the Thai Entertainment Content Trade Association, said the hunt for Mr Neij and his accomplices continued for more than three years and their business had caused great damage to worldwide film industries.
