Former official held over jobsoverseas scam
Police act after workers say they were swindled
POST REPORTERS
Former labour department chief and former minister to the prime minister's office Vichit Saengthong was yesterday arrested on charges of colluding in arranging overseas jobs without permission and swindling workers seeking employment abroad.
The 76-year-old retired official was arrested at Paholyothin Place Building on Paholyothin road in Phayathai district on charges of colluding to operate a job placement company without authority and swindling workers wanting to work abroad when he was in power.
Pol Col Rojsak Naipongsri, a deputy inspector with the Crime against Children, Juveniles and Women Suppression Division, said police acted on a complaint filed by damaged parties. The officer led a team of police armed with arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court and the Buri Ram provincial court to arrest Mr Vichit in Bangkok.
According to a police investigation, Mr Vichit had colluded with Chayada Raksasiri, 44, a resident of Si Sa Ket's Muang district, in running the VA job-placement firm which arranged jobs overseas for local people. Ms Chayada, who is still at large, acted as a job broker, while Mr Vichit served as a member of the firm's board. The firm had promised to find well-paid jobs in Australia and France for applicants.
About eight people had applied for jobs with the firm and each had to pay the firm 150,000-200,000 baht.
They were told by Ms Chayada that Mr Vichit could arrange jobs overseas for them. After the brokerage fees were paid, the victims were taken to a house pending arrangements for their trips overseas. However, none were sent abroad as promised.
Mr Vichit yesterday denied all charges. He insisted he had not been involved in the swindle and claimed his house servants had used his name to cash in on people wanting to work abroad.
However, police were not convinced by his comments. He was being detained at Bang Sue police station for further questioning and legal action.
The labour department was under the Interior Ministry before being upgraded to a ministry.
Mr Vichit failed to win a seat in the Dec 23 election under the Palang Pandin banner as a party-list candidate in the northeastern provinces. He planned to sit in the election for provincial senators.
Bangkok Post Jan. 18, 2008