A Thai woman accused of defrauding more than 20 people with promises of seasonal work in Sweden has been arrested in Udon Thani after evading authorities for more than four years, local media reports.
The 56-year-old suspect was arrested on 28 May by Thailand’s Highway Police under a warrant issued by the Bueng Kan Provincial Court in February 2022. She is accused of collecting deposits from job seekers who were promised fruit-picking jobs in Sweden.
According to police, the victims, most of them from Si Wilai district in Bueng Kan province, each paid 20,000 baht to secure a position. However, the promised jobs and travel arrangements never materialised, and the organiser allegedly disappeared. Total losses were estimated at nearly 500,000 baht.
Police said the victims were told they would receive well-paid fruit-picking jobs in Sweden and paid deposits in anticipation of travelling abroad. When departure dates approached, they reportedly lost contact with the organiser and no employment opportunities or travel arrangements were provided.
Investigators allege the suspect spent years moving between locations to avoid arrest. Police recently received information that she had returned to Udon Thani and located her at a hut in Mueang district, where she was taken into custody.
Following her arrest, police said the suspect confessed during questioning. She has since been transferred to Bueng Kan province to face prosecution on public fraud charges.
