A group of con artists who victimized a local businesswoman of Bt40,000 by luring her to gamble was arrested recently by the police. The victim, Mrs. Jiraporn Mitnum, 50, a resident of Maenam, told police she met Prasert Kaewsila, 45, believed to be the leader of the group, at a bungalow  in Bang Por, Maenam.. Mrs. Jiraporn is a curtain installation contractor for bungalows and hotels.

She said he introduced himself to her as a police officer assigned to the Crime Prevention and Suppression Department.

He said he and his investor friends from Bangkok were on the island to invest in bungalows and condos.

Mrs. Jiraporn said Prasert, who even invited her to join their investment consortium, persuaded her to wait and meet his friends. Meantime, she said, Prasert served him coffee, which made her a little dizzy a short while after.

While waiting for his supposed friends, two people in business attire, later identified as Pinit Noosaeng and Jirapatchara Saengchan, emerged. They had big shoulder bags purported to contain thick wads of baht notes.

Prasert then suggested that while waiting for his friends they might as well play cards to while away time.

She said she lost Bt40,000 in the card game. When she ran out of cash, she excused herself and drove to her bank to withdraw money. She said she wanted to play more to recoup her losses.

As it was a Saturday, the bank was closed. Mrs. Jiraporn then decided to drive to the house of a cousin to borrow money. On the way, it began to dawn on her that she could be a victim of con artists.

It was then that she decided to go to the police.

Pol. Col.. Samran Maacharoen, superintendent of the Koh Samui police and his deputy, Pol. Lt Col Somphet Phetsud led a team that swooped down on the Bang Por bungalow where members of the syndicate were staying.

Aside from Prasert and his two cohorts, several other suspected accomplices were arrested during the raid. Seized from Prasert was a loaded .38 hand gun. The raid also yielded fake IDs, a deck of cards, counterfeit bank notes, many bundles of blank cut-paper the size of a Bt1,000 note, Bt10,000 in cash, fake car plates, 10 mobile phones,  and three vehicles.