BANGKOK — A farmer who crowdfunded the purchase of a buffalo he had bonded with was charged Tuesday afternoon with fraud, money laundering and violating the Computer Crime Act.
After surrendering the buffalo to the police this morning, Surat Phaeoket was charged with serious crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a 200,000 baht fine, one day after the official he bought the animal from accused him of defrauding donors with misleading statements.
Read: Smiling Buffalo Seized by Police, Impounded as Evidence
Surat will be brought in for questioning, Col. Singh Singhdet of Khan Na Yao police said Tuesday.
Photos of man and buffalo became an online sensation earlier this month, and netizens chipped in the money needed for him to buy the animal outright. Surat last week purchased Tongkum from Boonlert Kanpakdee, a subdistrict mayor who set a price of 100,000 baht for the 4-year-old bull.
After the deal was done, Boonlert complained to the police he was embarrassed by what happened and alleged the funds had been illegally obtained. He said Surat made misleading statements about the animal’s predicament; Surat denies doing so.
Source: By Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/crime-crime/2018/11/27/farmer-who-bought-smiling-buffalo-charged-with-fraud-money-laundering/
Smiling Buffalo Seized by Police, Impounded as Evidence
CHAI NAT – An impoverished farmer in the central province of Chai Nat was in tears Tuesday morning when police arrived to confiscate the beloved buffalo he’d just purchased with the help of online donors.
Surat Phaeoket had to lead Tongkum the buffalo onto a truck after the animal’s seller, a local government official, complained to police he had not wanted to sell the now-famous buffalo. Police said the farmer committed fraud by crowdfunding the money used to buy the buffalo and have frozen his accounts.
“I don’t want to cry anymore,” an upset sounding Surat said several hours later. “When leading him onto the truck, I told him that he will come back to our home to be with me together soon. I told him to wait just a few more days.”
Read: Smiling Buffalo’s Former Owner Mad as Hell About Crowdfunded Sale
Tongkum was taken to Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao Police Station, where he will remain until the court decides who owns him.
Around back, reporters were led past a cutout of Col. Singh Singhdet, the station chief, in cowboy gear to a corral containing a shed wrapped with mosquito netting. There, officers said they would take turns trying to bring the smile back to Tongkum’s face.
“The environment should still be good for him,” said one cop on the scene now tasked with buffalo care. “It’s still a natural environment.”
Surat said the animal’s well-being will suffer.
“I’m so worried about him. He needs to play in water all the time and roll in mud so he can be protected from mosquitoes. He also eats a lot of grass,” Surat said.
Singh said he believes Surat misled the public about the seriousness of Tongkum’s situation.
“Surat exploited people’s pity to solicit money, which is illegal,” Singh said.
Boonlert Kanpakdee, Tongkum’s former owner and a lesser local official in Chai Nat, called Surat a beggar Monday for appealing online for the 100,000 baht he used to buy Tongkum after the pair became internet famous.
Surat denies making any misleading statements in his public appeal.
“I will do my best to show my innocence. I will ask for legal help,” Surat said. He said he did not have legal representation.
Boonlert was accompanied Monday to the police station by a media-hungry attorney who said he’d donated 100 baht and had now taken it back. He and one other had come forward to reclaim their donations, Singh said.
Singh said that Boonlert did indeed name a price of 100,000 baht for Tongkum. He said that Surat posted a video clip of himself crying and asking for money lest Tongkum be killed.
Surat denies making such a clip. None could be found online. He did make appeals for support through various media channels, some of which embellished his tale including a few news accounts that the buffalo faced the slaughterhouse.
“Surat really does love buffaloes. He wanted this buffalo so much because he has a female one he wants [Tongkhum] to mate with,” Singh said. “If both sides fight it out, then he’ll stay here for a long time.”
-
UK prisoner extradited from Thailand teste... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Fri, 15:58:02
UPDATE: Neither Mark Rumble nor another suspect deported to the UK have the Covid-19 corona... -
We want more Europeans and more cruise shi... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Fri, 03:53:17
Tourism operators in Koh Samui have called for the government to get more cruise ships to v... -
One in seven public transport vehicles are... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Fri, 07:01:08
About one in seven public transport vehicles have failed safety checks in the first week of... -
Old man harboured a 50 year bullying grudg... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 03:01:56
Thai caption: Sorry about that mate. A 69 year old man shot his friend of the same age aft... -
Bangkok woman hospitalised after she falls... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Thu, 02:30:03
A 51 year old Thai woman was recently sent to hospital complaining of vaginal pain because ... -
Transport Minister wants to raise the spee... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 02:41:29
New transport minister Saksayam Chidchob - whose family are famous for having a racetrack i... -
Transport Minister wants to raise the spee... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 02:34:04
New transport minister Saksayam Chidchob - whose family are famous for having a racetrack i... -
Thai woman's nose job turns foul due to di... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Mon, 05:09:26
A Thai woman in Bangkok went on Facebook after a nose job went wrong. The woman had gone to... -
Thai man sent beautiful Bai Por 2.3 millio... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Sat, 14:11:01
Sanook has reported that a Thai man fell for what he thought was a beautiful woman on Faceb... -
Chiang Mai Airport: Grab car driver says h... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Mon, 01:55:46
A Grab Car driver told the Thai media that he was attacked by officials at Chiang Mai airpo... -
Naked Thai man jumps on pick-up - drugs mi... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Mon, 01:48:31
Our picture from Sanook shows a 22 year old Thai man jumping on the hood of a pick-up truck... -
Electric massage chair almost eats man ali... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 06:09:06
In Thailand, massages are very popular amongst locals and foreigners. Thai massage shops ca... -
Rapist of granny, 89, caught - but the gra... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 03:30:18
Police in Trang in southern Thailand have arrested a 71 year old man after he admitted rapi... -
Video: Dog Trashes Car - bugger off and te... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Tue, 03:15:57
A dog owner told their neighbor that they refused to accept responsibility for the damage t... -
The hunt is on for a Thai taxi driver who ... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 02:09:36
The hunt is on for a Thai taxi driver who took an upskirt picture of a female passenger in ... -
German expats perfect the ' pointing ' sta... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Tue, 06:26:04
Officials in central Prachuap Khiri Khan went to a three story property after complaints th... -
Evidence of prostitution found in Pattaya:... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Tue, 03:43:47
The special administrative department of the Pattaya authorities finally showed the police ... -
Liquids, gels, sprays and food banned from... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Mon, 03:28:46
Sanook said that D-Day for new Civil Aviation Authority bans on a whole host of foods, liqu... -
Chinese tourist in Bangkok caught defecati... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Tue, 05:42:38
Thai Rath reported that a Chinese male tourist had dropped his trousers and attempted to po... -
Outrage after farang stars in Chiang Mai p... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Sat, 03:51:24
Social media users have called for the police to investigate the origins of an adult movie ... -
Villagers in Khon Kaen falling for so-call... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Thu, 00:12:42
KHON KAEN Provincial Public Health official Peera Areerat has warned people against buying ... -
Udon Thani - German pensioner electrocuted... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 02:30:43
Sanook reported that a 78 year old German pensioner was electrocuted trying to repair a pum... -
German tourist's head bound with duct tape... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Wed, 01:00:00
Ao Nang, Krabi police called to a luxury hotel's 6th floor on Tuesday found a 40 year old G... -
Fired worker went on Bt6m spending spree w... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Tue, 05:44:35
A woman who was fired by her company took revenge by stealing her former boss’s credit card... -
Bikini babes light up record breaking &qu... (1) , AdminExpatInfo, Mon, 04:44:35
Cameras were out recording pictures and videos of the attractions at the fourth annual "Cen...
You must be logged in to post a comment.