[News Today] Suspect held in Thailand over student death

[LEAD]
A scam ring leader linked to the torture and death of a Korean college student in Cambodia has been arrested.

The suspect, a Chinese national, was captured in Thailand following a joint investigation by Korean and Thai authorities.

[REPORT]
Police surround a high-end residence in Thailand.

Heavily armed officers barge into the house and arrest a man who was asleep.

Police, police! Show your hands! Wake up!

He is a 42-year-old Chinese national surnamed Ham, leader of a Cambodian scam ring.

Ham is accused of recruiting Koreans to Cambodia for two months since May last year, promising a profitable part-time job.

Among those who went to Cambodia deceived by Ham is a college student surnamed Park who was found dead at Kampong Bay last August.

After arriving in the country, Park was detained at a criminal compound near Bokor Mountain and was forced to take drugs and eventually tortured to death.

"Drink it. Come on quickly, bottoms up!"

Found on Ham’s computer were phone records under the name ‘slave’ and several videos showing torture, likely meant to be used for blackmail.

"Electric shock, torture."

Since apprehending a group of men in Cambodia earlier in November including Li Guanghao who are accused of murdering Park, Korean authorities including the justice ministry obtained intelligence that Ham had fled to Thailand and have been tracking him down.

Through coordinated efforts with Thai law enforcement including looking into surveillance camera footage and communication records, investigators have now arrested Ham, the other main culprit, after a month.

The justice ministry will swiftly request an extradition to repatriate Ham to Korea.

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