A Lao woman accused by alleged con woman Monta Yokrattanakan of stealing gold and jewellery worth 2.9 million baht arrived back from Laos on Monday to fight the case, and reported to Thai authorities.
Ms Kabkaew, whose surname was not revealed but who previously worked as a maid for Ms Monta, travelled with her boyfriend by ferry boat across the Mekong River and entered the country via Chiang Saen district in Chiang Rai on Monday morning.
On arrival at the Golden Triangle permanent checkpoint’s pier in tambon Wiang, Ms Kabkaew reported to immigration officials, declaring she had arrived to clear her name.
She was later taken to meet Pol Col Natthakit Pinpak, chief of Chiang Saen immigration, for initial questioning pending the arrival of police investigators from Bangkok.
Ms Kabkaew and another Lao woman, Thamma, whose surname is also not known, allege they were tricked into forced labour by Ms Monta in 2011.
The two women eventually quit and fled Ms Monta's home. Soon after, Ms Monta filed charges against them, alleging they stole valuables worth 2.9 million baht before they left.
Ms Monta, 58, who also previously went by the name "Ying Kai", hit the news headlines after her former household staff accused her of filing false complaints of theft with police.
Ms Monta is currently being held at the Central Women's Correctional Institution facing several charges of laying false police complaints against former staff, human trafficking, and lese majeste for wrongful use of a royal title.
Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn, acting commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and his deputy Pol Maj Gen Jaruwat Vaisaya, head of a team investigating charges of human trafficking by Ms Monta, were flying to Chiang Rai to question the Lao woman, Thai media reported.