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By CORINNE ABRAMS
Sun OnlineTWO Britons and a Thai government official were today arrested over an alleged crime syndicate.
Peter Watkin Jones, 40, and Crispin John Grandvil Paton Smith, 43, were held on charges of extortion, money laundering and illegal land deals on the popular holiday destination of Koh Samui.
Col Piyawat Kingket, spokesman for Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations, said it was believed the two British men were members of a US-based international crime syndicate known as the Bandidos motorcycle gang,
The Thai man, Pramual Somwong, allegedly provided forged documents to assist in their illegal operations, Col Piyawat said.
Police believe the gang has been using Koh Samui as a base for criminal activities.
Col Piyawat said: “The investigation found that the Bandidos gang imported more than 3 billion baht (£43million) and laundered it in Koh Samui in the form of investments in several tourist businesses.”
The gang bribed officials to issue land certificates for illegal real estate sales, and had been involved in at least seven illegal land development projects in Koh Samui, Col Piyawat said.
The detained suspects face charges of organised crime, extortion, bribery and money laundering, punishable by a maximum of 14 years in prison.
A team of 100 police officers from the Crime Suppression Division, Anti-Money Laundering Office and Department of Special Investigations conducted the raids at the suspects’ homes in Koh Samui.
Thai police are now searching for three suspected Thai collaborators.
They are working closely with Danish police to track down two Danish suspects, one whom escaped during the raid.
Another who has returned to Denmark and is believed to be a key member of the gang, Col Piyawat said.
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