Woman arrested in Thailand over record US$186 million romance scam

A woman has been arrested at Hat Yai International Airport over her alleged role in a 6.3 billion baht (US$186 million) romance scam, the largest ever in Thailand.

The arrest of Orathai, a Thai national whose surname was not revealed, happened on Saturday, according to a report by the Bangkok Post. It came after an investigation in 2022 into the scam involving two senior executives at Essilor Manufacturing (Thailand), including the company’s chief financial officer Chamanan Phetporee.

Orathai, 52, was on an arrest warrant for multiple charges, including collusion in money laundering over the 2022 case, participation in a transnational crime organisation and collusion in fraud through identity theft.

She claimed to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) that she was told by her Nigerian partner to open bank accounts in Thailand for his partner to start a company in the country. After doing so, she allegedly let her partner manage transactions through the accounts.

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The case involving Chamanan was triggered by a discovery by her company of fraudulent fund transfers made in 2019.