Officers in Bang Rak apprehended an Iranian man impersonating a police officer to search tourists’ bags and steal cash. The suspect was finally caught at the Sadao checkpoint while attempting to flee to Malaysia.
Police Major General Samart Phromchat, with local officers and immigration police, arrested 53 year old Ghiasi Arefhossein on charges of theft by impersonation. The arrest was made in accordance with a warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court on September 23.
The suspect is accused of disguising himself and posing as a police officer to facilitate his crimes, using a vehicle for easier escape.
Police seized various items of evidence, including the clothes worn during the crime, and multiple foreign currencies such as Malaysian ringgit, Uzbekistani som, Iranian rial, British pounds, US dollars and Thai baht. These items were confiscated as he attempted to leave the country at the Sadao Immigration checkpoint in Songkhla province.
The initial complaint was filed on August 17 by Syed Ghazanfar Abbas Kirmani, a Pakistani tourist. He reported that while walking on Silom Road near Decho Intersection, a man claiming to be a police officer searched his bag. Kirmani later discovered that US$1,000 (approximately 33,515 baht) was missing. He immediately reported the incident to the Bang Rak Police Station.
Another report came on August 31 from Kan Lin, a Myanmar tourist. Lin stated that he and his sister were approached by a man posing as a tourist police officer near a shop on Silom Road. The imposter searched Lin’s bag, removed an envelope containing £3,150, and used a trick to make some of the banknotes fall to the ground.
While Lin was distracted picking up the money, the thief pocketed some of the cash and then quickly left the scene in a white car. Lin also reported the incident to the Bang Rak Police Station.
Investigations revealed that both incidents involved the same perpetrator, who had an accomplice driving the getaway vehicle. The suspects used fake documents to rent cars and disguised themselves with wigs, hats, and face masks. The police found that the two men, both Iranian nationals, had entered Thailand on tourist visas.
Following the gathering of substantial evidence, the Bang Rak Police obtained arrest warrants for both suspects. On October 18, at approximately 1.45pm, the Bang Rak investigation team, in collaboration with immigration officers, arrested Arefhossein as he tried to flee to Malaysia, reported KhaoSod.
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