A 24-year-old Chinese woman, identified only as Ms. Hu, has been arrested in Pattaya, Chon Buri province, for her alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims in China of over 150 million baht (approximately $4.2 million).
Details of the Arrest
Pol Maj Gen Panthana Nuchanart, deputy chief of the Immigration Bureau (IB), announced the arrest during a media briefing on Thursday. Ms. Hu was apprehended at a condominium located on Pattaya Sai 2 Road after immigration police responded to intelligence regarding her whereabouts. When officers requested her passport, she claimed it was missing.
Upon further investigation at the Chon Buri immigration office, her fingerprints were checked in the biometric system, revealing no record of her entry into Thailand. Consequently, officers charged her with illegal entry into the country.
Background on the Charges
The Immigration Bureau coordinated with the Chinese embassy in Thailand and confirmed that Ms. Hu was wanted on public fraud charges for her role in a Ponzi investment scheme in China. She is accused of luring numerous individuals into investing in a fraudulent stock share investment scheme, resulting in substantial financial losses.
During questioning, Ms. Hu admitted to entering Thailand illegally via a natural border crossing near the Golden Triangle area in Chiang Rai province. Following her arrest, she was handed over to investigators at the Pattaya City police station for further legal action.
