Last WinCapita suspect caught in Thailand

Thai police arrest 42-year-old man in Pattaya

Risto Hentunen

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Police in Thailand have arrested a 42-year-old Finnish man, the last remaining suspect at large in the WinCapita investment fraud case.
      Inspector Maria Vuorivirta-Heikkinen of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed to Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday that there had been an arrest in the case.
      “We will be able to make very good progress, now that we can bring the views of this person into the investigation”, Vuorivirta-Heikkinen says.
     
The suspect, Risto Hentunen, was reportedly arrested by the Thai immigration police, who said that the man is to be handed over to Finnish officials.
      The schedule of the repatriation of the subject remains open, Vuorivirta-Heikkinen says, adding that the schedule would be revealed next week.
     
Thai media also reported that the arrest was made in the tourist resort of Pattaya. Interpol had issued an international arrest warrant for him.
      Thai police brought the man to a press conference, where his Finnish identification papers and dozens of credit cards were shown to journalists.
      The NBI did not reveal details about the man’s arrest on Sunday.
      “The Thai police have operated independently”, Vuorivirta-Heikkinen said.
     
The suspect is believed to have to have been in Thailand for a long time. During this time he has maintained a blog, and has granted interviews to a few Finnish media outlets.
      In June, he told the late-edition tabloid Iltalehti that he was low on money and was living a modest life in Thailand.
      A total of three people have been listed as wanted in the WinCapita case. The main suspect, Hannu Kailajärvi, was arrested in December last year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  WinCapita fugitive arrested in Swedish town (15.12.2008)
  Police looking for main suspect in WinCapita fraud case (14.11.2008)
  Looking for Mr. WinCapita (14.9.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat