SURAT THANI – Immigration officials have arrested a Russian man wanted for extorting more than 1 million roubles from an automotive company CEO in Russia, using biometric tracking to locate him at a luxury hotel in Koh Samui.
Pol Col Naruwat Phuttawiro, commander of Surat Thani Immigration Office, said on Friday that authorities received a request from the Russian Embassy to apprehend Sibgatullin Airat, 40, who had fled to Thailand to evade prosecution.
Though the suspect had been frequently changing accommodations to avoid detection, the Immigration Bureau’s biometric system found that Airat had checked into a luxury resort in Bo Phut along with his girlfriend.
Officers apprehended him by the pool on Thursday before taking him into custody. His stay permit has been revoked and an official investigation has been launched.
Airat and three other Russian nationals committed extortion between November 2023 and November 2024. The group threatened to release damaging information about a major Russian automobile dealership company, demanding more than 1 million roubles (around 390,000 baht) from the CEO, who transferred the money out of fear.
Russian federal police issued arrest warrants for the gang and coordinated with the Thai authorities after discovering Airat had fled to Thailand.
Pol Lt Gen Phanumat Bunlaksana, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said he has ordered immigration offices nationwide to intensify enforcement against foreign criminals hiding in Thailand.
The public can report information about foreign nationals committing crimes by calling the 1178 hotline or the Surat Thani Immigration Office at 077-423440.
Source: Bangkok Post