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Pattaya's Chinese Gangs: Shootings, Kidnappings, and Corruption

Pattaya's Chinese Gangs: Shootings, Kidnappings, and Corruption

MGR Online•Society•23d ago

Reader Briefing

Escalating criminal activities by Chinese 'gray' gangs in Pattaya highlight deep-rooted issues of foreign capital, money laundering, illegal businesses, and severe violence.

  • •Chinese criminal gangs in Pattaya are increasingly audacious, committing serious crimes including shooting at police officers and kidnapping foreigners.
  • •The gangs operate with alleged facilitation from local networks and potentially corrupt officials, engaging in businesses like nominees, money laundering, and illegal entertainment venues.
  • •High-profile cases involve shootings, kidnappings with demands for millions, extortion, and violent assaults, indicating a lack of effective control and impunity.
  • •Concerns are raised about foreign capital taking over local economic sectors and the potential for widespread illegal activities under the guise of legitimate businesses.

Overview

  • •The article discusses renewed attention on nominee businesses and 'gray' Chinese individuals following a recent social media incident involving Chinese yuan usage.
  • •Pattaya and surrounding areas in Chonburi province are experiencing an alarming rise in criminal incidents linked to Chinese groups, escalating to threats and violence.
  • •Chinese gangs have resorted to extreme violence, including shooting at police officers during searches and brutally assaulting foreigners, causing fear among residents.
  • •One local source claims at least four well-known cases involving these gangs, including the escape of 'Yang Leo', with numerous smaller daily incidents.
  • •The gangs are described as 'bosses' involved in real estate, operating nominee companies to launder money for scammers.
  • •Pattaya's high foreign investment and past failed investigations into foreign nominees in tourism and real estate are cited.
  • •Instances of Thai individuals acting as nominees for over 100 foreign companies, with a total value exceeding 300 million baht, are highlighted as abnormal.
  • •The article questions whether foreign gray capital is gradually seizing the local economy, with many entertainment venues and businesses in Pattaya dominated by foreigners, sometimes excluding Thais from their own land.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on MGR Online (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: MGR Online (Original)

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Key Quotes

Local Source
"Think about it, the famous ones now, everyone in Pattaya knows about at least four cases. Big cases like Yang Leo still get away, let alone the smaller daily ones."
คุณลองคิดดูนะที่ดังๆตอนนี้ คนทั้งพัทยาเขารู้กันก็มีอย่างน้อย4คดี คดีใหญ่อย่าง หยาง ลีโอ ยังหลุดเลย นับประสาอะไรกับคดีเล็กๆยิบย่อยรายวันอีก
Local Source
"These people use Thais as nominees to hold shares for foreigners. Imagine one Thai person holding shares for over 100 companies worth more than 300 million baht. How is that normal?"
พวกนี้จะใช้คนไทยเป็นนอมินีถือหุ้นแทนต่างชาติ คิดเอาคนไทยคนเดียวถือหุ้นแทนต่างชาติกว่า 100 บริษัท มูลค่ารวมกว่า 300 ล้านบาทมันปกติตรงไหน
Local Source
"Ultimately, how much real benefit do Thais get from this income? Or are we letting foreign gray capital gradually seize Thailand's economic territory?"
สุดท้ายรายได้เหล่านี้คนไทยได้ประโยชน์จริงแค่ไหน หรือกำลังปล่อยให้ทุนสีเทาต่างชาติเข้ามายึดพื้นที่เศรษฐกิจของคนไทยไปทีละน้อย?

Key Entities

Place

Pattaya Province(มณฑลพัทยา)ℹ️
A region in Thailand experiencing a surge in criminal activities by foreign gangs.

Organization

Chinese Gray Gangs(แก๊งจีนเทา)
Criminal organizations of Chinese nationals operating in Thailand, involved in illegal businesses and violent crimes.
Space Club
An entertainment venue in Pattaya that has become a focal point for investigations into criminal activities linked to foreign nationals.
World House Club Pattaya(เวิร์ล เฮ้าส์ คลับ พัทยา)
An entertainment venue whose partners were involved in a violent conflict with another gang.

Person

Yang Leo(หยาง ลีโอ)
A criminal figure whose alleged major case escaped prosecution, symbolizing the impunity of some individuals within the Chinese gray gangs.
Zhang Yang(จาง หยาง)
An individual associated with a shooting incident involving police, who reportedly fled the country.
Leo(ลีโอ)
A nickname referring to Zhang Yang, involved in a shooting incident.
Mr. Ren Haibo(นายเหริน ไห่ป๋อ)
The victim of a kidnapping and severe assault case, who was held for ransom.
Zhang Delong(จาง เต๋อหลง)
An individual arrested in connection with the kidnapping and assault case of Mr. Ren Haibo.
Bobby(บ๊อบบี้)
A leader of a violent Chinese gang, allegedly involved in the death of a Singaporean man and a conflict between gangs.
Mr. Victor Song Shui Yuan
A Singaporean national who died after being assaulted outside the Space Club.