Two South Korean men are heading to trial after allegedly abducting a compatriot for ransom at Bangkok’s unofficial Little Korea, the top immigration official announced yesterday.
The duo are accused of assaulting and kidnapping the South Korean tourist at Sukhumvit Plaza, aka Korean Town, and demanding THB200,000 (US$6,600) for his release. Immigration Bureau chief Sompong Chingduang said the suspects, identified only as Ro and Kim, were arrested Sept. 25. Ro was taken into custody near BTS Pu Chao and Kim was later arrested at his residence near the Gateway Ekamai shopping mall.
The chief said the victim, identified only as Yoon, went to the Samut Prakan Police Station in August complaining he had been threatened by two South Korean “gangsters” while visiting Sukhumvit Plaza, aka Bangkok’s Korean Town. The 42-year-old man said he was seized and held captive in a Sukhumvit Road condo near BTS Chang Erawan. He said that he paid the ransom out of fear before going to the police.
Yoon told the police he did not know his attackers or have conflict with any criminal elements back home. He told them he was simply visiting the outdoor mall when the incident took place.
Police found Yoon’s passport along with an axe, knife and rope at Kim’s residence. Sompong said investigators were still searching for more possible victims and potential associates of the suspects.
In 2016, two South Korean men were arrested in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong area under similar circumstances for allegedly attacking a South Korean tourist and trying to extort money from him.
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