Thai police nab Malaysian for ATM thefts, attempted bribery

CHUMPHON, March 9 (TNA) - Police on Monday formally charged a Malaysian Chinese man with possession of equipment for producing counterfeit electronic cards, producing fake plastic electronic cards, stealing cash from automatic teller machines (ATMs) and attempting to bribe police officers.

Teo Guek Liang, 43, was taken to a market in the southern Gulf of Thailand province of Chumphon’s Lang Suan district to reenact the crimes he had allegedly committed, police said.

Mr. Liang reportedly told police investigators that he and an accomplice identified as Goh Chin Heng, also a Malaysian of Chinese descent and still at large, had produced a number of counterfeit ATM cards and withdrew over Bt3 million (US$81,000) belonging to over 20 people.

Both men escaped to Malaysia but Mr. Liang later returned to Songkhla’s Hat Yai near the border to return his rented car, according to police.

Apprehended in Hat Yai, he was served police charges including attempting to bribe police officers with Bt1.2 million (over $33,000) in cash, police said.

Police are still looking for Mr. Heng. (TNA)