A 64-year-old Thai woman on the run from fraud charges for nearly a decade was arrested in Bangkok Thursday, just 15 days before the statute of limitations expired.
Thossaporn Jiarapattanakhom, apprehended in front on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok's Huay Kwang district by Crime Suppression Division police, was anted on an arrest warrant for allegedly colluding with eight others, including a Chon Buri politician, to swindle an Indonesian importer out of 98 million baht in sugar. Charges also include document forgery.
The warrant dates from a 2005 caper in which Mrs Thossaporn and her accused cohorts allegedly lured Budi Yuvono into a deal to buy 37,000 tonnes of sugar from them on behalf of the Indonesian government between Jan 25 and Aug 18, 2005, Manager Online reported Thursday.
No sugar was ever delivered to the Indonesian businessman, prompting him to file a complaint with CSD police against Great Motor Co, its executive Khata Setthabut, Ms Thossaporn and six others, including Somsak Natenimit, a former Chon Buri provincial councillor who was reportedly close to the Chon Buri's powerful Kunploem governing clan, who acted as their guarantor.
Ms Thossaporn was arrested, but later fled as prosecutors prepared to indict her. She also failed to appear to hear the prosecution's charges.
A source said Ms Thossaporn was apprehended, just 15 days before the 10-year statute of limitations in her case expired.