Thread: Thailand - Three arrested as bogus car rental firm busted

Police linked to car scam face inquiry
Accused of lying and falsifying evidence

Three police officers will face a disciplinary inquiry after lying to their supervisors and attempting to falsify evidence over a scam involving hire-car firms, police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said yesterday. Pol Sgt Montri Thewarat, Pol Cpl Chaiwat Prachachai and Pol Capt Karin Thongmanokoon were found to have falsified records related to the entry into a police compound of a stolen minibus and also to have tampered with video files of the police office's security cameras, according to the spokesman.

Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat said the three officers had tried to delete video footage featuring their pictures from the office's database, but computer technicians managed to retrieve the deleted files.

Police chief Pol Gen Sereepisut Taemeeyaves has ordered a panel to be set up to conduct a disciplinary investigation of the three officers, said Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat.

The officers' involvement with the missing van came to light on Tuesday when one of about 50 victims of an alleged swindle related to a vehicle-hire scheme found his missing van parked at police headquarters and saw Pol Sgt Montri opening his van.

Pol Sgt Montri then told the van owner, Kasem Sasakul, that a man called Somchai had left the van with him on Monday evening, adding that Mr Somchai had rented the van but suspected it was a stolen vehicle.

On Tuesday Pol Sgt Montri said Mr Somchai asked police to search for the van's real owner. However, Pol Sgt Montri later admitted he drove the van into police headquarters himself.

He said he had rented the van from Pol Capt Karin for 1,000 baht a day and used it as a hire vehicle serving tourists at various hotels.

He apologised to the media and claimed he lied out of fear that he could be linked to a crime racket when Mr Kasem approached him.

According to Pol Sgt Montri, Pol Capt Karin also earned extra income selling cars and lending money via car mortgage schemes.

Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat said that as well as facing the disciplinary inquiry, Min Buri police investigating the swindling gang would be asked to prove if the three officers were part of that gang.

Metropolitan police chief Aswin Kwanmuang said the police team tasked with searching for the missing vehicles, led by Pol Col Preecha Thimamontri, found some of the victims' vehicles had already been exported to Laos, and the law in Laos made it impossible for police to get those vehicles back.

In Bangkok, Metropolitan police from all units are scanning parking lots, including those at private apartments, condominiums and warehouses, in a bid to locate some of the vehicles belonging to victims of the car-hire scam.

In Nakhon Ratchasima where police seized 12 vehicles and a pistol stored in a warehouse in Thepthani housing estate in Muang district last week, the warehouse owner, Choochart Choedpetcharat, yesterday turned up to tell local police he owned the pistol and managed the warehouse.

Lt Choochart insisted all 12 vehicles belonged to his friends and clients, and said none were related to any car theft gang.

Bangkok Post