Three Brits arrested in Thailand over 'torture robbery' of crypto trader from London

Police have arrested four suspects over the alleged torture and robbery of a wealthy British cryptocurrency trader in Thailand.

The alleged thieves reportedly invited the Bitcoin fanatic, 25, from North London, to meet with them in a penthouse room at the Boss Mansion Residence hotel in Bangkok, before reportedly restraining and torturing him to steal watches and jewelry worth 3,000,000 Baht (64,335 GBP) on July 12.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said in a press conference on July 16 that four suspects have been caught while a fifth was at large.

He said: 'The Immigration Bureau collaborated with Khlong Tan Police Station to investigate. After we identified the suspects and obtained arrest warrants, we entered their information into the airport's biometric screening system which is used to flag any suspicious individuals.'

The first suspect, Danish national Abdullahi Ahmed Saney Mohamed, 27, was caught at a hotel in Pattaya.

Police seized from him the victim's watch, and a key to a pool villa nearby. He refused to disclose the whereabouts of the other suspects.

The cops then confirmed with pool villa staff that two other wanted individuals were staying there, before staking out the place for four hours.

When the British suspects, Ahmed Saeed Yasin, 24, and Hussein Mohamed Hassan Sheekh, 25, arrived, the officers swooped in to arrest them.

They found a knife, knuckle dusters, and another watch in the Brits' possession.

Another British national, Shafiq Sumya, 21, was detained at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport as she was trying to flee for New Delhi, India.

Authorities found she was carrying 25 kilogrammes of cannabis vacuum-sealed in bags. She was charged with 'attempting to export controlled herbs out of the country without permission' and 'attempting to export goods that had not yet gone through customs procedures'.

One more female suspect was still on the loose and is believed to have left the country. Police said they now know her name but have not publicly revealed her identity.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Panthana said: 'Khlong Tan Police Station is in the process of finalising the arrest warrant, which is expected to be issued within two days. We will then coordinate with Interpol to have the last suspect returned to Thailand.'

The four suspects involved in the robbery case were charged with multiple offences, including armed robbery, assault causing bodily or mental harm, coercion with weapons, unlawful detention, extortion, document theft, and carrying weapons in public areas without reasonable cause.

They were detained at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court for legal proceedings, with police opposing bail.