Disabled Chinese caught begging on Bangkok streets

Police interrogate the six Chinese nationals arrested for begging in Bangkok. The four men and two women entered the country on tourist visas. (Photo: Tourist Police Bureau)

Six Chinese nationals, three in wheelchairs, have been arrested for begging on the streets in Bangkok.

The beggars, four men and two women, were wheeled out at a police news conference on Wednesday.

They were detained on footpaths near Ari and On Nut skytrain stations on Feb 1, immigration chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn said.

They had rented hotel rooms on Soi Intharama and went out to beg for money at various spots around Bangkok in the mornings, returning to their rooms in the evening. They exchanged any small coins they received at convenience stores, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said.

All had entered the country on tourist visas. Most had overstayed, he said.

The four men were identified as Huang Yunlin, 54, Lei Fengjun, 44, Li Baishan, 47, and Lin Yanjun, 34, and the women as Huang Genhua, 30, and Lai Meilin, 32. Both women and Mr Huang are disabled.

They have been charged with begging under Section 13 of the 2016 Beggar Control Act. Violators are liable to a maximum jail term of one month and/or fine up to 10,000 baht.