Alleged call centre ring leader nabbed at Suvarnabhumi airport

An alleged leader of a call centre scam gang was arrested at Suvarnabhumi international airport on Friday (April 20) as he was waiting for a connecting flight at transit lounge for a flight to Taiwan.

The Taiwanese suspect, identified as Ko Xang Khun or Calvin, was later escorted by police to the Royal Thai Police to be presented to the media.

The national police chief, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, said that Mr Ko who escaped from Dubai was wanted in Thailand for operating call centre scam operation and an arrest warrant was issued against him by Phra Khanong provincial court.

He alleged that Mr Ko was the leader of Chi Kher call centre network and he had been in the illicit business for six years in several Asian countries, including Thailand, and the gang had allegedly cheated more than 100 million baht from gullible customers.

The capture of Ko on Friday was a follow-up operation after the arrest of another gang member, Chi Kher, on December 27 last year in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan. Mr Chi was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the court.

Pol Maj-Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy commissioner of Tourist Police, said that police had charged Mr Ko with being a member of a transnational crime network, public fraud, money laundering and violations against computer crime law.

He disclosed that Mr Ko was among eight suspected criminals on the Red List and Thai police had sought cooperation from the Interpol for his arrest.

Meanwhile, five victims of the call centre scam gang showed up at the Royal Thai Police to receive partial refund amounting to 480,000 baht of their money cheated by the gang from the police and the Anti-Money Laundering Office officials.