Japanese kidnap gang arrested in Ekamai area
A JAPANESE gang kidnapped a Japanese businessman and beat him up in Sukhumvit area allegedly because they were angry that he had reported them to the authorities for theft and had flew in specially to teach him a lesson, Thai News Agency said today (June 10).
Pol Lt-Gen Sanit Mahathavorn, head of metropolitan police, who questioned the three suspects, Masato Kobari, Layo Surushoha and Kiyotu Miyata, said he believes others too were involved in this kidnapping.
The kidnap gang was arrested from Grand Hi-tech Tower in Ekamai soi 23 last night and equipment including a baseball bat, rope, handcuffs and a gun were seized from an apartment in Sukhumvit soi 49.
The victim is conscious and is recovering in a hospital from injuries on his head and legs after being beaten with the baseball bat.
The suspects told Pol Lt-Gen Sanit that they kidnapped the victim and hit him on the head with a baseball bat because two years ago he had hired them to build an extension to his house in Japan and they had stolen an artifact valued at 15 million baht from him.
The victim had reported them to the authorities and this had enraged them and that is why they followed him to Thailand.
A document written in Japanese language was found on the suspects with this stating the steps to be taken in this kidnapping.
The suspects told the police that they only wanted to teach the victim a lesson and the saw was intended to cut pieces of wood to support his injured legs.
The suspects had also taken the victim’s credit card with 6 million baht available and had forced him to give them the card’s number but a check showed no money had been withdrawn.
In liaising with Japanese police it was discovered that only one of the three suspects had a record of harming another person 10 years ago.
CAPTION:
Top: The three Japanese kidnap suspects at the police station today. Photo: Thai News Agency
Inset: Pol Lt-Gen Sanit talking to the press about this case today. Photo: Thai News Agency
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