A kidnapping resulted in serious injuries sustained by the victim following a shootout between the kidnapper and Police in the early hours of Tuesday Morning. Khun Pusit aged 47, the co-owner of a Beauty Salon in South Pattaya was abducted by a man claiming to be a Police Officer. The suspect entered the Beauty Salon on Monday Night and claimed he had come to arrest Khun Pusit on drugs charges and intended to take him to Pattaya Police Station. Khun Pusit complied and was taken to an undisclosed location where the so-called Police Officer demanded payment of 100,000 Baht from Khun Pusit’s older sister and co-owner of the Beauty Salon. A price of 50,000 Baht was agreed and a meeting point outside the Macro Wholesale Shopping Center in Jomtien was agreed upon. At this point, the sister, Khun Jampen aged 60, called the Police who accompanied her to the meeting point. The suspect, who was driving a Blue Toyota Yaris, came out from the car and collected a bag of money left on the side of the road. He then jumped back into his car and sped away before officers could detain him. A high speed car chase occurred during which shots were fired. Police shot the car a number of times but were unaware the victim, Khun Pusit, was inside. Eventually the car was forced to stop due to damage sustained, outside the Niran Grand Condo in Soi Arunotai, Central Pattaya. The suspect was able to escape on-foot, leaving Khun Pusit seriously injured in the back seat. He was rushed to the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. Police are confused as the car used by the suspect was parked at Pattaya Police Station and belonged to a drug user who was arrested earlier in the day and are unsure how it could have been used in this case. The investigation continues.
Hostage shot by Pattaya Police during rescue attempt. Suspect manages to escape unharmed
