Four foreign men have been arrested in Pattaya on Friday wanted in connection with a reported kidnapping and torture of a German nationa...
Four foreign men have been arrested in Pattaya on Friday wanted in connection with a reported kidnapping and torture of a German national over two years ago. The four men are part of a motorbike gang called the Lone Brother Group.Pattaya, the 19th of March 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 5:30pm on Friday, police Colonel Somnuk Changate (Banglamung Police Superintendent) along with police Colonel Atisawit Kamonrat (Chon-Buri Immigration Superintendent) and a joint team of officers arrested 4 motorbike gang members in an unnamed Pattaya village community. The men were wanted in connection with the kidnapping and torture of a foreign man in 2008.With the use of an arrest warrant, following a report filed by Mr. Michael Spinter [37] a German national on the 12th of March 2010, police were able to arrest 5 members of the Lone Brother Group; Mr. Gabriel Frey [40] a Swiss national, Mr. Manfred Decker [52], Mr. Heinz Adam [42], Mr Peter Marzog [46] and Mr. Sven Vehma [42] all of whom are German nationals. Mr. Frey is believed to be the leader of the group which is now known to be a part of the larger Cycle Club MC gang. With the use of the aforementioned arrest warrants the police taskforce stormed their Pattaya hideout arresting 4 of the group. Mr. Vehma was able to escape before police arrived at the scene.Mr. Spinter explained, in his statement to Banglamung police, that he was deceived and detained against his will before being tortured repeatedly for a period of 9 hours. He revealed that the group of men responsible for the assault were part of a foreign motorbike gang known as the Lone Brother Group. At the time of the incident he stated that 5 men tied him down before breaking his fingers and burning his limbs on a motorbike exhaust. A 120,000 baht ransom was paid to the gang by Mr. Spinter's Thai wife. The gang had threatened to murder Mr. Spinter and his wife if they reported the incident to police.In a further statement by Mr. Spinter, he revealed that the group, lead by Mr. Frey, also operated a motorbike sales business in Pattaya. According to Mr. Spinter he had engaged Mr. Frey with the intention of purchasing a motorbike from the shop, when the deal did not eventuate; Mr. Frey and his gang proceeded to kidnap, detain and torture Mr. Spinter as a result of the failed dealings, subsequently requesting a ransom.All four arrested men have denied the charges levelled against them, however; police at present have enough evidence and key witnesses to proceed with the case. The arrested gang members have been detained in police custody whilst investigations continue in an attempt apprehend the fifth offender, Mr. Vehma, who managed to escape.
