• 
• 

Published on February 17, 2008

Jaran Suparp and Thitirat Srimuk work for Yufuku Decorate, one of the two companies that offered to give car-owners a large cash commission for letting each car be put out to rent. Not only did the owners never get their cars back; they never got a commission.

Jaran was also the former driver of Colonel Weerasak Meenawanitch when he was Metropolitan Police commander.

Peerapong Pirakchawa-nant, the third suspect, acted as broker to sell the vehicles to used-car dealers, some in neighbouring countries.

Since the news of the scam broke last week, police have been inundated with complaints from car-owners. Yesterday alone, 20 people filed complaints with police. So far 233 victims have contacted Min Buri Police Station. Only 17 out of 285 cars reported to police could be recovered, and six have been returned to their owners.

Bang Phlat police received complaints from 65 people who owned 101 cars.

In Chon Buri, several police stations received complaints from people who claimed they had been duped by Choke Udomrat Partnership into putting their cars into the rental scheme. Police estimate at least 200 owners were defrauded in the province.

Pongnara Bauploi, one of the complainants, said Jakkarin Ploisarat, the owner of Choke Udomrat, had offered him Bt18,000-Bt20,000 as a commission for each car he put up for rental.

Pongnara entered his two pickup trucks along with a friend's two pickups and one passenger car for the programme last November.

The Nation