The Phuket News‘ Tanyaluk Sakoot has this wild report of a Ukrainian businessman hiring a group of Thai soldiers there to kidnap a Ukrainian couple running a multi-level marketing scheme:

PHUKET — Ten men, five of them soldiers from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, have been arrested for taking a Ukrainian couple hostage overnight and then demanding B15 million from them. But what should have been a smooth operation to get the money ended with the 10 in police custody.

The abductors had freed Maryna Iermanova, 32, before taking her husband, Igor Iermanov, 37, to the Kasikorn Bank in Rawai, confident that she would not risk telling the authorities.

But she went immediately to Chalong Police Station for help.

Lt. Col. Chukiat Imjaitam, deputy superintendent of Chalong police, told The Phuket News that the couple owed money to a man in the Ukraine with whom they had been involved in a business.

Maryna Iermakova told The Phuket News this evening that she and her husband had borrowed USD500,000 to promote their multi-level marketing business.

Chukiat said the businessman in the Ukraine hired the five soldiers to collect on the debt. It is not clear yet how the other five Thais became involved.

The colonel confirmed that the couple were not suspected of committing any crimes. They run a kite surfing school in Phuket.

After releasing the woman, the abductors took Igor Iermakov to a Kasikorn bank branch in Rawai, but discovered that there was only B1 million in the account.

They then took him to the Kasikorn branch near Chalong Circle – near the Chalong Police Station – where the abductors told their hostage he could give them a check for the money but ordered him to call his wife to meet them at the bank.

Travelling in three cars, the ten men with Igor Iermakov arrived at the bank. Told of the rendezvous by Maryna Iermakova, the police were waiting for them and arrested them before they could go inside.

The five soldiers, when caught, were in possession of a variety of weapons, including 11mm pistols and Heckler & Koch 33 assault weapons. Happily there was no gunplay.

The 10 people arrested were named as follows:

Master Sergeant 3rd Class Sumit Chuaybamrung, 49, from Surat Thani;

Sgt. Kachenpong Boonmee, 43, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat;

Sgt. Wichien Suknun, 42, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat;

Pvt. Reuchai Promthongkeaw, 22, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat

Pvt. Phisit Keawwihok, 26, from Nakorn Sri Thammarat

Prawit Edyao, 36, from Trang;

Oranuch Tiyapongphatthana, 40, from Phuket;

Kemtichai Pansao, 32, from Nan;

Bandal Inmang, 35, from Phuket;

Somporn Chaisit, 58, from Surat Thani.

They have been charged with kidnapping and demanding money with threats.

Initial reports that some of the abductors were Tourist Police volunteers were strenuously denied by Capt. Uramphon Kundetsumrit of the Tourist Police. He said that none of the names revealed worked for his department.

It is not clear how the Ukrainian businessman was able to hire the soldiers.

Additional reporting and photographs by Eakkapop Tongtub

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