'Billionaire' who left bride arrested

Police detain
Police detain "billionaire" Thananat Siripiyaporn, 49, centre, after he arrived at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok on Thursday night. (Photo supplied)

The self-professed billionaire groom who fled, leaving his Buri Ram bride with a huge wedding party debt, was arrested at Don Mueang airport upon returning from Hong Kong on Thursday night.

Police said Thananat Siripiyaporn, 49, was taken into custody about 9.30pm after disembarking from the plane.

Mr Thananat was wanted on a fraudulent cheque charge. A biometric scan alerted immigration police to his arrival. 

Mr Thananat, aka Sia Top, left for Hong Kong on Oct 6, shortly after his marriage in May to a 30-year-old product presenter and lavish wedding party, in the northeastern province of Buri Ram, made news headlines. 

The bride's family complained that he had organised a wedding ceremony and party they said cost about 3.5 million baht, and then left suddenly after the wedding without paying the bill. They alleged the large dowry cheque disappeared with him.

They said they did not know much about him but the bride had told them he was a wealthy businessman, worth billions of baht.

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Vocabulary

  • biometric (adj): using some unique part of a person's "biology" or body to identify them, such as a scan of the retina of their eye which is unique - สถิติชีวภาพ
  • ceremony (noun): a formal public event - งานพิธี
  • cheque: a piece of printed paper that you can use instead of money to pay for things - เช็ค
  • custody: the state of being in prison or under police control, especially while waiting for trial - การกักขัง, การคุมขัง
  • dowry: money and/or property that, in some societies, a husband must pay to his wife's family when they get married ; money and/or property that, in some societies, a wife or her family must pay to her husband when they get married; - สินสอดทองหมั้น, สินสมรส
  • fraudulent: dishonest and illegal - ซึ่งฉ้อโกง
  • lavish: more than enough, especially if expensive - ฟุ่มเฟือย

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