According to CryptoPotato, Thai police are searching for four Chinese nationals who are suspected of robbing a luxury home in Pathum Thani, a province in central Thailand. The robbery took place around 2 AM on Wednesday in Tambon Ban Mai, which is part of the Muang district.
At the time of the incident, there were six people in the house: three men and three women. Ke Jibao, a 35-year-old Chinese businessman, reported that he and his wife were asleep when four masked intruders, armed with guns and knives, broke into their home. The intruders restrained Ke, his wife, and a maid by tying their hands and feet. They then forced Ke to contact a relative in China and arrange a transfer of $2 million in cryptocurrency to their account. After the transfer was completed, the thieves stole the security camera servers and fled in Ke’s black Toyota Alphard.
Ke suffered a minor knife wound on his right wrist, and Chen Mingfa, a 26-year-old male helper, was injured when he was hit on the forehead with a gun. The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned near a power plant on Liap Khlong Prapa Road at 1:30 PM on Wednesday. It was then taken to the Police Forensic Science Centre 1 for examination. Ke told investigators that he did not know why the robbery occurred or how the suspects knew his relative.
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Rising Crypto Scams in Thailand
Police suspect that the robbery was well-planned. They noted that the suspects entered the estate on foot, which helped them avoid security checks that require identification. Pol Col Narong Iamrahong, the commander of the Pak Khlong Rangsit station, mentioned that investigators are looking at footage from other security cameras in the area to identify the suspects. Authorities also plan to question the victims and neighbors more closely.
Thailand has seen a rise in crypto-related scams as the adoption of cryptocurrencies grows. The country and its regulators are working to balance promoting the crypto industry with preventing fraud. In March of this year, Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) allowed institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals to invest in crypto ETFs. Additionally, crypto custody providers must use digital wallet-management systems as required by SEC regulations to ensure the safety of customer assets.
Thailand is currently ranked 10th in Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index. Many crypto exchanges in the country have been granted licenses, reflecting the growing interest and investment in the crypto sector.
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