4 September 2023 at 18:13 Described
During law assaults in four northern counties, three men were detained for fraudulently digging up and selling artifacts online, and nearly 1, 000 artifacts were seized.
During requests of nine locations in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Phayao, Sukhothai, and Lamphang over the past month, authorities detained Thotsaphorn Rermcham, 26, his nephew Thothsophon, 19, and Sri-on-Chanthana, 46.
According to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej of the Central Investigation Bureau, the pair was wanted on suspicion of unlawful possession and the price of artifacts. The arrest warrants had been issued by the Criminal Court.
In addition to freezing four bank accounts, the law also seized 970 artifacts, 11 metal scanning machines, and digging equipment.
Police from the Crime Suppression Division were made aware of a group that was illegally searching for artifacts and selling them on Facebook after learning of this from conservationists. The studies were then verified by CSSD authorities in collaboration with Fine Arts Department representatives. & nbsp,( see further beneath)
During a press briefing on Monday, the suspects’ drilling equipment, metal scanners, and 970 artifacts were on display. ( Photo provided by Wassayos Ngamkham )
The Facebook group was contacted by CSD officers who pretended to be buyers and expressed interest in purchasing two old monuments. They obtained the data and forwarded it to the office for analysis.
The results demonstrate that the goods are authentic treasures. According to the CIB chief, one is a 1,600-year-old engraved cow figurine, and the other is an elephant figurine with engravings from the 21st century( Buddhist Era, about 500 years ago ). In order to detain additional parties involved, the research was being expanded.
The suspects formed a group to dig for artifacts at historic sites or swim for them in main rivers in the provinces of Phayao, Sukhothai, Lampang, and Ratchaburi, according to Pol Col Ekkasit Panseeth, superintendent of the Crime Suppression Division sub-division 4. They recorded their actions while diving, producing website content to draw customers.
According to Pol Col Ekkasit, information about the items would either be made public on Facebook for sales or sold to stores in Chiang Mai that deal in treasures.
The two men, Mr. Thotsaphorn, claimed they had no idea what they were doing was illegal. They claimed that they used the proceeds from the sale of the artifacts to pay for their everyday living costs. According to Pol Col Ekkasit, Mr. Sri-on denied all accusations.
According to the researchers, the suspects made roughly 200,000 baht per month. More than 10 million baht had been transferred through their bank transactions over the previous three years.
All were detained by the police for legal actions.
( Wassayos Ngamkham provided the photo )