A Chinese national and a Thai woman were arrested for providing illegal loan services to more than 70,000 customers, according to the Immigration Bureau.
Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, immigration police commissioner, said the arrest of Lian Bin Bin and Natchuta Kulachet followed an investigation into complaints filed in May and June by borrowers that they were charged high fees and interest.
The debtors named 6 lending apps including Maewkwak, Tao Mongkol, Tungngoen, Tiktak, Ubaht and Cashdaddy and claimed they were charged 30%-42% in loan processing fees.
If they failed to make payments within seven days, they were charged interest and fined 12% on the first day overdue and 5% a day thereafter.
The lenders also harassed clients for repayment soon after.
Pol Lt Gen Chingduang said the court approved the warrants after the police investigation found more than 70,000 unhappy debtors.
A police unit yesterday searched two locations in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong and Muang districts where they arrested Lian and Natchuta.
The pair were charged with providing illegal loan services.
Seized from their belongings were 15 savings bank books, 10 cash withdrawal cards, 13 mobile phones and 100 notebook computers.
Police also found 66 people there who admitted they were hired to collect debts.
Pol Lt Gen Chingduang said his team would work closely with the Royal Thai Police’s centre against loan-sharking to crack down on illegal lending.
Front Page An Immigration Bureau police officer takes photos with his phone during a raid on an office used by a Chinese man in Nonthaburi.
