Police have arrested a Yakuza gangster for alleged extortion of a compatriot in Thailand, a Chinese man for a 10-million-baht fraud in China and 48 Pakistanis without valid passports.
Katsuhiko Yamazaki, 62, was arrested at The Old Siam Plaza in Phra Nakhon district last Wednesday for the attempted extortion of a compatriot with a business in Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Pananchai Chuenjaitham, investigation chief of the Immigration Bureau, said on Tuesday.
When his demand for 20,000 baht was refused, he flew to Japan in May and allegedly set fire to the house of his victim's relative. He then raised his demand to 50,000 baht. The victim filed a complaint with the Japanese embassy.
Pol Maj Gen Pananchai said Mr Yamazaki had visited Thailand often since February and was wanted for many crimes in Japan, including assault and rape,
Immigration police arrested Chinese national Xu Xingying, 35, for allegedly embezzling about 10 million baht worth of down payments from purchasers of residential units in Hebei province, and then failing to transfer title to them.
Chinese authorities issued a warrant for his arrest last year. He fled and was arrested at Don Mueang airport on June 12, Pol Maj Gen Pananchai said.
He also said 48 Pakistanis were arrested at an apartment building in Bearing Road in Bang Na district on Monday. They included 20 children.
He said 26 arrived in the country six years ago and their passports had expired. Fourteen others had no passports. Eight others carried refugee application cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but their applications had been rejected, Pol Maj Gen Pananchai said.