Thai-Cambodian couple detained on suspicion of allegedly deceiving customers into placing online purchases of famous art products.
PUBLISHED: 10 Aug 2024 at 14: 10
A Thai-Cambodian couple was detained after allegedly deceiving customers online by ordering the popular Labubu art toys, resulting in damages totaling more than$ 2 million.
Police from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB ) executed a warrant on Friday to search a condominium in Sukhumvit Soi 107 in Samut Prakan, where they found 27-year-old Pathomchai, a Nakhon Pathom native, and Cambodian national Pen Paisi, also 27.
The couple is accused of money laundering, fraud, and entering phony information into a computer. They were found with designer clothing, bags, footwear, watches, two banks passport and a vehicle, and over 9 million baht worth of their possessions were frozen.
The suspects have ties to Pavinn Sopittivong‘s Facebook page, which claimed to control China-produced pre-orders for the well-known art toys. A victim of a problem discovered that she had paid the site operator for 1.8 million baht without receiving any goods. Police believe damages could amount to several millions of baht after several additional victims have come forth.
Mr. Pen claimed to be a reputable supplier who had trouble carrying orders while being interrogated by the police. He added that because he could n’t open his own bank account in Thailand, he was attempting to repay customers and did n’t intend to defraud them.
Wasinee, 24, was the only victim who was identified only as Wasinee, who claimed she first met Mr. Pen through the Space Molly Facebook team and that she had faith in him because of his powerful sales messages. While her first purchases were fulfilled, following purchases failed to materialise. After placing 29 commands, she lost 898, 450 ringgit to the couple, Ms Wasinee added.