Chinese fugitive held in Thailand over 500m baht fraud

2026-03-18 - 10:11

KHON KAEN — 18 March 2026, Thai immigration police have arrested a Chinese national wanted for fraud involving about 500 million baht, after tracking him to a remote tattoo ritual site in northeastern Thailand, officials said. The suspect, identified only as Zhang, was apprehended while hiding at a sak yant (sacred tattoo) compound in a forested area along the border of Khon Kaen and Maha Sarakham provinces. Immigration Bureau Region 4, working with provincial investigation police and international authorities, carried out the arrest following a request from Chinese officials seeking his extradition to face fraud charges. Police said the man was accused of operating a company used to defraud numerous investors of large sums of money before fleeing to Thailand. Investigators located him in a secluded riverside area along the Chi River, far from nearby communities. He was found waiting to undergo a tattoo ritual, believing it would bring him luck and help him evade arrest. During questioning, the suspect admitted he had overstayed his visa and was aware of the charges against him in China. Immigration records showed he had remained in Thailand illegally for 331 days. He has been charged with overstaying his permitted stay and was handed over to investigators at Muang Khon Kaen police station for legal proceedings, while further action related to the fraud case is expected.