A Ukrainian conman has gone on the run after allegedly carrying out what is, quite possibly, #Pattaya’s greatest ever property fraud.

Felix Smolyar, who travels on both Canadian and Ukrainian passports, moved to Pattaya ten-years ago and started the Liberty Group real estate agency.

The company website is now offline and according to the Russian news agency Novostivl Smolyar has fled Thailand through Suvarnabhumi airport and is already in Hong Kong.

He leaves behind accusations of taking payments for condos that do not exist and some that do but have been sold multiple times.

Clients and investors of Smolyar said they found him to be likable, friendly and above all, trustworthy.

That was until they realised they had been victim of the scam, which is estimated to be worth in the region of 300 million baht.

After transferring funds to Smolyar, victims describe receiving what they now realise are fake title deeds.

Others transferred money to Smolyar only to discover that several other people had paid for the same condo.

One victim said he transferred 5 million baht to Smolyar who gave him a signed sales contract and a set of keys to what he thought would be his new holiday home.

The man bought furniture and moved into the property before returning to his home country. Due to return later in the year, Smolyar assured the man he would have the title deeds to the property when he next visited Pattaya.

However, when he did return six months later, the man found somebody else living in the apartment who had genuine documents proving he was the legal owner.

And it isn’t only clients and investors who suffered at the hands of Smolyar – staff at the Liberty Group have also been left unpaid.

Before fleeing, staff say Smolyar raided the company bank accounts and withdrew all the cash, including rental deposits from tenants and staff salaries.

Smolyar has left his wife and four year old daughter behind in Pattaya. Just before he fled, he reportedly sent his daughter a video message asking for forgiveness for treating so many people so badly.

Novostivl also claims that victims have reported the fraud to Pattaya police but have been told there is not enough evidence to issue an arrest warrant.

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