In a well-coordinated operation led by Police Major General Chairit Anurit, Commander of Immigration Bureau Division 3, and Police Colonel Plearn Klinpayom, Deputy Commander, authorities arrested 41-year-old South Korean national Jiyong Ki in Pattaya on February 12, at 11:16 PM.
Ki is charged with entering Thailand without proper authorization and overstaying his visa. He is also wanted under an Interpol arrest warrant in connection with a significant fraud case involving high-end electronic products. Previously employed by a prestigious electronics company in South Korea, Ki continued to deceive victims by convincing them to place orders for brand-name products, only to fail in delivering the goods. The accumulated losses from these scams totalled around 1,155 million won (approximately 31 million baht or $915,415).
After fleeing to Thailand to evade capture, Ki was tracked down through an investigation based on tips. Upon his arrest, he confessed to being the individual sought by Interpol. Further investigation revealed that Ki had overstayed his 90-day Thai visa.
Following his arrest, Ki was taken to a local police station. The case comes after another similar arrest last year, when a South Korean individual was apprehended for overstaying his visa and engaging in drug trafficking from Thailand to South Korea. Thai authorities also intend to deport two other South Korean nationals connected to smuggling activities.
