A former U.S. Marine was arrested in Thailand over an alleged $three million greenback kidnap for a ransom revenge plot.
Louis William Ziskin, 52, with the assistance of three different accomplices allegedly nabbed Taiwanese businessman Wen Yu Chung, 60, in broad daylight at a restaurant in Bangkok on March 28.
They had been allegedly offended over a failed enterprise deal by which Chung had bought them rubber gloves for 93 million baht ($2.95 million) which turned out to be poor high quality.
Louis, along with fellow American Jeremy Hughes Manchester, 41, Thai cop Kritsnaporn Thapthawee, 59, and one other Thai man Prasit Narit, 28, allegedly demanded cash from Chung earlier than he may very well be freed.
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However, the businessman’s household refused to pay the huge three million greenback ransom and contacted native authorities for assist. This allegedly pressured the group and launched the Taiwanese at a hospital earlier than they had been arrested on May 15.
Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridet mentioned Louis and his alleged accomplices paid 300,000 baht ($9,526) in bail however they should put on digital monitoring bracelets to forestall them from fleeing the nation.
He mentioned: “Their lawyers successfully applied for bail. They should wear the bracelets at all times. They were also barred from leaving Thailand. Chung’s boss who was also his mother didn’t want to follow their demands and contacted us to help them with the situation.
“The abductors then left him at a hospital for medical therapy as he was bodily assaulted. The Taiwanese later reported the scenario to us. He recognized eight individuals however we arrested 4 of them to this point. The others are nonetheless in hiding.”
The group allegedly bought nitrile gloves for industrial use from Chung in December 2020 but lost 93 million baht ($2.95 million) after the businessman refused to provide replacements. They then set about hatching a revenge plot to recoup some of their losses.
An Israeli detective identified as Michael Greenberg hired by Louis allegedly planned the abduction but he was not arrested and police are reportedly still searching for him.
The group was charged with racketeering, extortion, abduction for ransom, amongst others which they denied.
