European fugitives arrested in Thailand

European fugitives arrested in Thailand

Two fugitives wanted in Europe on charges including large-scale fraud have been arrested in Thailand, police said.on Thursday.


Stefano Raccagni (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)

Pol Maj-Gen Chitsanupong Yuktathad, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, announced the arrests of Stefano Raccagni, 38, and Eve Paoletti, 47.

Mr Raccagni, an Italian national, was arrested on Tuesday at a house in Chiang Mai province where he had settled with a Thai girlfriend since arriving in the country in 2009.

His arrest follows a request from Italian authorities via Interpol.

Pol Maj-Gen Chitsanupong said the man faces charges of defrauding Italian banks and finance companies of more than US$8.6 million.

"We have revoked Raccagni's visa and will deport him to Italy," Pol Maj-Gen Chitsanupong said.

Mr Raccagni is wanted in Italy on suspicion of being part of a 12-strong Milan-based gang that smuggled people into the country and defrauded tax authorities and banks.

Eve Paoletti (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)

The gang allegedly operated more than 40 companies in Italy engaged in fraud, tax evasion and human trafficking. Other members of the gang were arrested in Italy several years ago.

According to Italian authorities, Mr Raccagni has around $10 million in his bank account and was running a small loans business in Thailand and selling motorcycles, cars and cell phones.

Immigration police arrested Ms Paoletti, a French national, on Tuesday on the tourist island of Samui.

She is wanted in France for alleged $1.3 million fraud involving contracts to build homes. 

Police said Ms Paoletti and her husband, who has already been arrested in France, opened Home Concept Construction and Home Select company. They signed construction contracts with many clients, but failed to fullfil them.

Ms Paoletti has been hiding in Thailand since July last year.

She will be repatriated, police said.

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