A French man has been arrested after allegedly claiming close connections with senior police officers to extort money from many expats in Pattaya.
Police said on Thursday that Herve Leonard, 58, was arrested at a condominium on Phahon Yothin Road in Chatuchak district of Bangkok on Wednesday.
Mr Leonard, 58, was wanted for extortion, fraud and coercion in Pattaya.
Earlier the suspect had been a volunteer supporting police activities and had opportunities to pose for photos with many police officers.
He reportedly approached foreigners who lived in Pattaya, claimed to have close connections with senior police officers and extorted money from them in exchange for his “protection”.
He was arrested earlier but jumped bail and remained at large. He has overstayed his visa since Sept 15, 2020.
To avoid arrest, the foreigner moved every few weeks between Hua Hin, Bangkok and Pattaya and rented rooms while claiming he had lost his passport.
