KHON KAEN - A nurse at a hospital in Muang district who purchased a used car at a "good price" last month got a nasty shock on Wednesday when it was seized by police investigating a major car theft syndicate.
Thanpimol Thanamai, 55, delivered her Toyota Vios to Muang police station after learning the vehicle's licence plates, Chor Thor-5483 Bangkok, were registered to another car whose owner currently works in eastern Chanthaburi province.
Highway police booked the owner of a car with Chor Tor-5483 Bangkok plates for speeding on the Mittraparb highway in Muang district, Khon Kaen, on Aug 10.
But when Danai Kodipapha, 48, in Chanthaburi province, received the ticket he argued he had never driven the vehicle to the northeastern provice of Khon Kaen. He filed a complaint with local police.
Pol Col Omsin Trarungruang, head of Provincial Police 4’s car theft unit, said investigators found out that another car, in Khon Kaen, had the same licence plates.
Ms Thanpimol’s car matched the details shown on the speeding ticket. The nurse admitted to police she was the driver of the car that had been booked.
Police said the car was first registered in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Oct 21, 2008, and the registration later transferred to Kiatnakin Co in Phetchaburi.
The Phetchaburi licence plates were later changed and the car sold to Ms Thanpimol. He believed the switch occurred in Phetchaburi.
Pol Col Omsin said the car had been seized in the hope of finding links to a gang that falsifies documents for a nationwide car and motorcycle theft syndicate.
Ms Thanpimol said she had wanted a car at a good price for her personal use. A friend then told her of someone who wanted to sell a used car in good condition for 150,000 baht, and would drive it to her house.
She agreed to buy it and paid the money to the seller, who told her the car’s manual and other documents would be sent to her later.
Upon learning her car’s licence plates matched those issued to another vehicle, she immediately drove it to the police station, the nurse said.
