THAILAND: Criminal Tourists Held In Thailand

A suspected assassin on Russia’s most-wanted list, an armed robbery suspect, an escaped convict, a “mafia-style” fugitive and an alleged German counterfeiter were arrested recently in five separate busts in Thailand, Immigration police chief Pol Lt-General Natthorn Phrosunthorn told a press conference in Bangkok on Thursday.

As part of transnational criminal suppression operations by Thai authorities and Interpol, Natthorn said the “most wanted” suspected hitman, Russian Andrey Dzyatkovskiy, 35, was arrested in the northeastern province of Roi Et on May 25 following a request by Russian intelligence agencies.

An Interpol Red Notice sought Dzyatkovskiy’s arrest for murder, attempted murder, and illegal gun and ammunition purchases and possession in relation to assassinations of high-profile Russians, Natthorn said.

The suspect is linked to many deaths and injuries, according to Thai police. Officers discovered that he had visited Thailand seven times with the latest entry on April 18, Natthorn said.

Police initially attempted to track him while he was in the South and finally caught him at a gas station after he fled to Roi Et on May 25.

Natthorn said officers had revoked his visa on the grounds that he was a danger to society and would take further legal action.

In a second case, Russian robbery suspect Evgeny Korovin, 26, was arrested in Phuket last week. Interpol had issued a Red Notice for Korovin for armed robbery and breaking and entering.

He allegedly raided an apartment in Russia on November 15, 2013, robbed residents at gunpoint, assaulted them and got away with valuables worth about Bt3.25 million before fleeing the country.

After his arrest, he was also found to have overstayed his visa in Thailand and was charged appropriately. In the third case, Russian jailbreak suspect Dimitrii Shhuratov, 29, was arrested on May 19 in a hotel in Bangkok’s Soi Sukhumvit 11.

He is wanted in his home country for allegedly breaking out of prison and assaulting prison guards. His visa was revoked on the grounds that he was a danger to society and he faced further legal action, Natthorn said.

A fourth case dealt with alleged Russian mafia leader Anatolii Samodov, 56, who was arrested on May 22 at a Pattaya condominium in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district.

Samodov allegedly led a criminal network that rigged auctions for public-sector projects by threatening competitors and forcing them to withdraw their bids, causing damage to the Russian economy.

In June 2012, Samodov fled Russia, first going to Italy and subsequently to Thailand after Russian police arrested six members of the network, who were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He was also found to have overstayed his visa, for which he was charged, Natthorn said. In the fifth case, German national Maurice Hockelmann, 25, was arrested in Bangkok’s Thung Kru district on Monday.

Hockelmann allegedly led a criminal network that counterfeited euro banknotes 260 times before he fled to Thailand. Hockelmann was also charged for overstaying his visa, Natthorn said.