200,000 euro scammers in Thailand investigated – salzburg.ORF.at
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After years of investigation, the Salzburg police found a suspected fraudster. The 50-year-old restaurateur is said to have embezzled more than 200,000 euros. He was investigated in Thailand, deported there and arrested at Vienna Airport.
On Thursday, the handcuffs clicked for the 50-year-old from Salzburg after two years on the run at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. The man, who is known to the authorities several times for property and bodily harm offenses, fled to Thailand via Uzbekistan, Russia and Turkey in December 2020. There he was found out by the investigators. An arrest and expulsion to Austria could be achieved via the Austrian liaison officer in Thailand.
Suppliers not paid, company money used privately
The 50-year-old, who last ran a restaurant in Flachgau, has been accused of a dozen offenses – including serious and commercial fraud, misappropriation of other money laundering and fraudulent Krida. The man is said not to have paid for delivered goods, advertising orders or car repairs. He is also said to have used 30,000 euros in company funds privately and illegally transferred 15,000 euros to people abroad. Overall, the damage is at least 200,000 euros at numerous suppliers, advertising agencies and cooperation partners.
A complaint by the restaurateur’s ex-partner in July 2019 got the case rolling – for bodily harm. During the investigation, more and more victims of the 50-year-old had reported, the official responsible told the ORF. The numerous crimes were gradually uncovered. The accused then left when the ground in Salzburg obviously got too hot for him.
Posts on social media revealed his whereabouts
The man was finally tracked down in Thailand through postings on social media and years of research. Although there were only two European arrest warrants against him, the Thai immigration authorities arrested him and expelled him. Now he is in the Vienna-Josefstadt prison. Next week he will be transferred to Salzburg, where he is expected to be tried.