KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian man wanted for running a scam operation was arrested in Sa Kaeo province, Thailand on Sunday after fleeing Poipet township, Cambodia, amid border clashes, authorities said.
The 29-year-old suspect, identified as Ang Joo Heng, had been under surveillance following the arrest of an Indonesian-Thai couple, known only as Kevin and Jiranan. The couple had been caught installing four SIM boxes in a Bangkok condominium, according to Pol Maj Gen Chanannat Sarathawanphaet, commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division.
The couple reportedly told authorities that Ang Joo Heng was their employer and resided in Poipet. Thai police said the Malaysian allegedly crossed into Sa Kaeo via a natural route to escape fighting along the Cambodia-Thailand border. He was apprehended near the frontier in tambon Khlong Nam Sai, Aranyaprathet district.
According to Pol Maj Gen Chanannat, Ang admitted to instructing the couple to install SIM boxes at multiple locations in Thailand. Each device contained numerous local SIM cards, allowing scammers to manipulate telecom networks and route international calls. The SIM boxes were reportedly used by call center scammers.
The case has now been transferred to investigators for further legal proceedings.
