Two Thai suspects arrested for kidnapping Chinese tourist

A police officer shows the image of Prasit Ditthachina, who is under an arrest warrant for abducting a Chinese tourist., on a phone. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chaiyutvorakan)

Two Thai citizens have been apprehended in connection with the kidnapping of a Chinese woman for ransom, while four more accomplices were being sought under arrest warrants.

Samut Prakan police on Wednesday identified the arrested suspects as Samruay Timkaew and Niphon Verrasorn. They were captured at an unknown location in Samut Prakarn after the provincial court approved the arrest warrants for them on Wednesday.

Police said Mr Samruay, 38, and Mr Niphon, 32, were hired by Wansikan Termthanapat, believed to be the ringleader, for 1,000 baht a day to guard Chen Jinhai after the Chinese tourist was kidnapped shortly after arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport from Hong Kong on May 6.

The court on Wednesday also agreed to a police request to issue arrest warrants for Uthai Inthatree, 51, Pradit Ditthachinda, 34, Sombat Khapetch, 27 and Natthapol Kaewsaikerd, 32, for alleged involvement in the plot in a different capacity.

The court approval on Wednesday brought the total number of suspects under arrest warrants to 11. Only two -- Mr Samruay and Mr Niphon -- are in police custody.

Four of the wanted suspects are Chinese. They were identified as Sun Wenqui, Song Ming, Sun Dongliang and Kai Meiling. The Standard newspaper of Hong Kong said Mr Song was a Hong Kong citizen and the others were from mainland China.

All the Chinese members of the kidnapping gang fled the country via Suvarnabhumi airport after receiving the ransom of 2 million yuan (10 million baht) from Mrs Chen's husband and sharing it with the other conspirators, police said.

Police display a chart showing the different locations kidnapped Chinese tourist Chen Jinhai was taken to, during a media briefing on Monday. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

Instead of setting the abductee free when she received the cash, Mrs Wansikan demanded another 1 million yuan from her husband, police said. At that point, the husband sought help from police, and Mrs Wansikan set her captive free.

Mrs Chen was taken from the airport and held in Bangkok, Pattaya and Koh Samet in Rayong during the abduction period. She was dropped by the Bang Na-Trat roadside in Bang Na district of Bangkok last Saturday.

She had come to Thailand for a vacation.