Five Frenchmen nabbed for stealing cash
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Five French nationals were arrested in Phuket province for allegedly using fake electronic cards to withdraw cash from ATMs in Kathu district's tambon Kamala and Chalong.
Kevin Okito, 29; Mel Poaty, 29; Accel Pambou, 26; Samir Maruof, 29; and Jesse Vincence, 33; were arrested in Soi Hua Khuan in Kamala on Saturday, deputy national police chief General Wut Liptapanlop told the press yesterday.
Police also presented 13 fake electric cards, a computer notebook and three flash-drives that allegedly carry information of other people’s electronic cards. The arrest took place after police received a tip-off from Siam Commercial Bank’s Money Transactional Crime and Security officials last week that fake electronic cards were being used to withdraw cash at the above-mentioned areas.
In response, police monitored the “risky spots” until they saw Okito and Poaty behaving in a suspicious manner at an ATM at 1.10am on February 28. Police then arrested the duo and searched their rented house, where they found more evidence and the other suspects.
Further checks with the French Embassy and the Interpol database showed that Okito was wanted in France and by Interpol for several different offences. The five suspects were initially charged for possessing fake electronic cards for use and sent them to Kamala Police Station for further legal action.
