Suspects thought key in infamous case
Police have arrested two more suspects allegedly involved in human trafficking activities that led to the deaths of a large number of Rohingya migrants in southern Thailand in 2015.
Mong Tan Tun, a 55-year-old Myanmar national, and his 42-year-old Thai wife, Rahana Jehsamaae, a native of Songkhla province, were arrested yesterday in Bangkok for their alleged role in the human trafficking operation that grabbed world headlines.
The couple reportedly operated a tour guide service as a front so as to use Thailand as a transit point in smuggling Rohingya migrants from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Malaysia.
A lot more than 30 dead Rohingya were discovered buried at camps in tambon Padang Besar in Songkhla’s Sadao district. Most of the camps were situated near the Thai-Malaysian border, looking forward to agents to help them cross the border illegally.
Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, an assistant national police chief, instructed police to locate the pair after a tip-off about their return to Thailand from Malaysia on Thursday. They were arrested near a restaurant on Rama IX Road in Bang Kapi district, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said.
The couple were wanted on two arrest warrants issued by Na Thawi Provincial Court on June 22, 2015, for colluding in the human trafficking of minors and providing shelter for those who illegally entered the kingdom, detaining the others, or depriving them of their freedom and ransom. Another warrant was issued on Aug 27, 2015, for colluding in money laundering.
Later, the couple fled to Kuala Lumpur to call home with their children. Mong Tan Tun changed his name to Zulkifli Bin Abdullah, while his wife’s name was changed to Rohano Binti Mat Said.
They operated an online shopping and domestic tour service, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said.
A complete of 153 warrants have been issued against offenders in the case, 124 of whom have been arrested while three have died, that he said.
“This is a major human trafficking case as it involved state officials, police, soldiers and politicians abusing their power, ” he said.
“Police have already been instructed to investigate and every offender will surely face legal action, ” he added.