It is alleged that Konstanin Zaretskiy, 41, demanded a million roubles (B972,000) from an intended victim, threatening to smear the victim publicly with made-up scandals if the money was not paid.
Summonsed by a court in Moscow in April this year, he skipped the country. His name was then placed on the Interpol “red list” of wanted criminals.
Earlier this month Thai Immigration Police discovered he was on the island, living in Plus Condominium in Kathu. They alerted the Russian authorities, who cancelled his passport on October 13, allowing him to be arrested for being in Thailand illegally
Pol Lt Col Tienchai Chompoo of Phuket Immigration Police explained to The Phuket News today, “We knew that he was staying in Plus Condominium. We went there and asked reception to call him down from his apartment. When he came down we showed him our warrant and arrested him.”
Zaretskiy is now locked up in the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok awaiting enforced repatriation.