Lopburi: A husband and wife have been arrested for swindling farmers by stealing tractors and selling them, causing damages of nearly 50 million baht.

According to Thai News Agency, the couple fraudulently rented agricultural equipment from villagers in multiple provinces, claiming it would be used for farming activities such as plowing and harvesting. Instead, they modified and sold the vehicles to neighboring countries.

At Ban Mi Police Station in Lopburi, a crowd of villagers, primarily farmers, gathered to see Mr. Sathaporn and his wife, the suspects accused of tricking villagers into renting various types of agricultural equipment. The couple would then disappear without a trace, making it impossible for the victims to reach them. When contacted, they would evade responsibility.

Following numerous complaints filed with the Ban Mi police, an investigative team was assembled to locate Mr. Sathaporn and his wife, as well as the stolen agricultural equipment. After gathering sufficient evidence, the team obtained an arrest warrant from the court. The duo was apprehended while driving in Ang Thong province.

Post-arrest, Mr. Sathaporn was brought to Ban Mi Police Station, while his wife was handed over to Muang Sing Buri Police Station, as the complaint and arrest warrant originated from Sing Buri province. During questioning, Mr. Sathaporn denied all charges and insisted on communicating through his lawyer. Meanwhile, police executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Mahason Subdistrict, identified as Mr. Sathaporn's property.

Officers discovered the warehouse locked from the inside and equipped with a CCTV camera. After attempting to gain entry, they eventually cut the lock with witnesses present. Inside, they found a disassembled rice harvester, a trailer truck, two rice harvesting machines, a car with removed license plates, and several vehicle registration books. The workers present immediately complied with the officers upon their entry.

The victims, who observed the search, confirmed that the vehicles discovered were used by Mr. Sathaporn for renting agricultural equipment. Police investigations revealed a coordinated operation involving local buyers and a former government official, who resold the vehicles in Ubon Ratchathani and neighboring countries. GPS tracking devices and VIN numbers were removed before the vehicles were shipped abroad. The estimated damage is nearly 50 million baht. Mr. Sathaporn faces charges including embezzlement, property damage, fraud against the public, and violations of the Computer Crime Act.