A SWEDISH man who fled a civil court case filed by a South Korean man who is claiming 100 million baht damages for a genital injury that occurred during a tandem paramotor ride in Chiang Mai was captured in this northern city today (June 17), Naewna newspaper reported.
Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang and his team said the Swedish man, Mr Hans Erling (name translated as written in Thai), was arrested under an old arrest warrant the bureau had issued.
Police said Erling had published online ads offering to take tourists on paramotor rides even though he did not have the required permit to do so. On October 8, 2018 he took the South Korean tourist, Mr Choi Haejong, on one such rides to get a scenic view of Chiang Mai from the air.
However the paramotor suddenly plunged to the ground leading to Erling breaking his leg and Choi’s genital being cut.
Erling fled Chiang Mai and took refuge in Kalasin province while Choi filed the 100 million baht civil court case.
However an informer told police that Erling had returned to Chiang Mai and was living in a house in Mae Rim district.
When police went to the house Erling, who was in front of it, ran off but police gave chase and apprehended him.
Erling first denied being the wanted man showing a Swedish passport with a different name, Mr Mr Alfred Carlson. However when police checked the details of the two passports, including the Swedish national identification number, date of birth, place of birth, and height, they matched.
Erling then admitted that he was the wanted person and that he had changed his name and surname to elude arrest.
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Top: Police announcing the arrest of the Swedish man with his image on a poster in the background. Photo: Naewna
