Thai immigration recently arrested a major Chinese fraud suspect who had been on the run for seven years. The man had long used Vanuatu nationality to conceal his identity in a case involving more than 250 million baht. In October, residents reported that a foreign man living in an upscale housing estate rarely went out but frequently received Chinese visitors. Immigration formed a task force, launched a covert investigation and sent officers disguised as security guards to monitor him.
After a week of investigation, police intercepted a white car carrying the suspect near the housing estate on the afternoon of November 12. The man held a Vanuatu passport, said he was 40 and gave his surname as Wu, but his Thai residence permit had expired. Police took him in for overstaying. During questioning, he appeared nervous and repeatedly denied any connection to China, prompting further checks.
Working with international law enforcement agencies to compare identities, police confirmed that Wu was the principal suspect wanted by Chinese police since 2018 in a large property fraud case. Investigators said that, as sales manager for a luxury residential development in China, he had used supposed “internal discounts” to defraud 48 buyers of more than 50 million yuan before fleeing abroad. He allegedly obtained Vanuatu nationality using forged documents to evade an Interpol Red Notice.
Thai immigration has begun investigating Wu's assets in Thailand, including luxury homes, vehicles and potentially linked financial accounts, while checking for accomplices or associated interests. The findings will be submitted to Interpol and law enforcement agencies in relevant countries for the next stage of legal proceedings.
Compiled by this station
