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Published on February 25, 2008

Ek-anong Pantart, 50, was arrested at a village in Pathum Thani and charged with fraud and forgery. Her sister, Angkhana Thepduang, was arrested last year. According to police, a C9-ranking official headed the gang in which Ek-anong was allegedly a member.

Since 2006, it was suspected of approaching prospective customers with the claim they had cars to sell at very cheap prices.

The gang claimed high-ranking irrigation officials were willing to sell their vehicles because they were falling behind in their hire purchase payments.

"After the customers bought the vehicles, some people from used-car shops turned up to demand the vehicles be returned," Pol Col Kittisak Sukwatthanbakul, a superintendent at the Crime Suppression Bureau, said at a press conference yesterday.

The victims were said to have been given false documentation for each vehicle.

Ek-anong's son, Rapeepoj Pantart, who is wanted on the same charges, remains at large.

"This case has more than 50 victims. It involves more than 280 cars. The amount of damage it has caused is more than Bt100 million," Kittisak said.

One of the victims said many irrigation officials were also duped in the racket.

Ek-anong has denied the charges.

"We are going after her accomplices and we are gathering more evidence," Kittisak said.

The Nation