The arrest followed complaints from residents in Soi Charoenlap, Wichit, about unregistered vehicles parked for extended periods along the roadside and motorcycles hidden under covers outside rental rooms.
Acting on orders from Wichit Police Chief Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang, Wichit Police Deputy Superintendent of Investigation Pol Lt Col Thirawat Amnatcharoenying led an investigative team to the area on Sunday evening (Aug 10).
Officers found six vehicles without licence plates parked on the roadside, along with six motorcycles concealed in front of a rental room. Questioning the room’s owner led police to the tenant, named by police only as ‘Mr Wut’ (a pseudonym), a resident of Moo 3, Wichit.
Wut admitted the vehicles were his property, pawned to him by people in urgent need of cash. He also confirmed the presence of additional motorcycles hidden inside the room and agreed to let officers seize them.
A search and expanded investigation led to the total seizure of 12 motorcycles, five sedans, one pickup truck and 46 documents related to vehicle pawning.
Police said Wut charged customers interest at 10% per month, well above the legal limit, and operated without a licence to conduct personal loan services. He was arrested on charges of lending money at excessive interest rates and operating an unlicensed loan business.
Pol Col Somsak thanked local residents for their role in the investigation. “Information from the public enabled us to track down and arrest the suspect, seize the evidence, and return it to the victims,” he said.
Wut and the seized evidence were taken to Wichit Police Station for further legal proceedings.