Thai Authorities Pursue Chinese Suspects in $2M Crypto Heist

Thai authorities are actively pursuing four Chinese nationals linked to a daring robbery in Pathum Thani, where they allegedly forced a fellow Chinese resident to transfer $2 million in cryptocurrency. The incident occurred on August 14, 2024, at a luxury home located within a golf course estate, leaving two residents injured.

According to the report, the robbery unfolded in the early morning hours, with police receiving a call around 2:45 a.m. Upon reaching the scene, they discovered that four armed and masked suspects had broken into the house.

The primary victim, Ke Jibao, a 35-year-old Chinese businessman, described the harrowing experience. Mr. Ke and his wife were asleep when the suspects burst into their bedroom. Brandishing guns and knives, the robbers tied up the couple and a maid, restraining their hands and feet.

The attackers then coerced Mr. Ke into contacting a relative in China to initiate a $2 million transfer in digital currency to their account. After confirming the transaction’s success, the suspects took the home’s security camera servers and escaped in the victim’s black Toyota Alphard.

Mr. Ke sustained a minor knife wound to his wrist, while a male servant, 26-year-old Chen Mingfa, was pistol-whipped, resulting in a facial injury. Both victims received treatment at a nearby hospital for their wounds.

The stolen vehicle was later discovered abandoned near a power plant on Liap Khlong Prapa Road around 1:30 p.m. that same day. Police secured the car and sent it to the Police Forensic Science Centre 1 for further analysis.

Pol Col Narong Iamrahong, commander of the Pak Khlong Rangsit station, concluded that the suspects had meticulously planned the robbery, as they managed to infiltrate the housing estate on foot, bypassing the need to present identification to security guards.

Authorities have asked the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects. Meanwhile, police have indicated their use of advanced technology to track down the criminals.

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