Unpaid debt blamed for gun and arson attack on East Pattaya home

October 6, 2012

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The house of a guarantor for a loan, yet to be paid back, was attacked with army-issue weapons in the early hours of Saturday and a truck parked outside the house was set on fire. The incident occurred at a house within the Tatawan Village just off Soi Siam Country Club and Police made their way to the scene just before 3am following reports of multiple gun shots and a vehicle fire. Officers arrived and noticed nails on the road, which is a common tactic used to prevent Police or members of the public from following assailants as they make their escape from a crime scene. Police met with the owner of the house, Khun Niem aged 78, who was very quick to offer Police an explanation. He revealed how his Sister, who has now lost contact with the rest of her family, took out a loan of 6 Million Baht 5 years ago with her Cousin, who is currently serving in the Thai army. Khun Niem acted as guarantor and when the debt was not paid back, the cousin confronted Khun Niem and demanded he pay back the loan as he accepted the responsibility of being the guarantor by co-signing for the loan. A number of angry confrontations took place over the years and on 15th September Khun Niem was warned that time had run out and they were making plans to destroy his assets including his car and house. In a last minute negotiation, the lenders tried to take possession of a pick-up parked outside of the house, owned by Khun Niem’s Son-in-Law, but they were told they could not have the vehicle. During the early morning attack, which was captured on CCTV, the assailants attempted to set fire to the pick-up which caused damage to the rear of the vehicle and shot at Khun Niem’s house multiple times, damaging his car. Police confirmed that bullet casing at the scene are army-issue and can only presume at this point, the Cousin, was somehow involved in the incident which is now under investigation.