BANGKOK: Thai police have arrested a 67-year-old Chinese man wanted in connection with a murder case who allegedly lived in Thailand for more than three decades using a fraudulently obtained Thai identity and operated several tourism businesses in Pattaya.
Authorities reported seizing assets worth nearly THB100 million, including land documents and vehicles, and said they were preparing legal proceedings ahead of his return to China.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma and officials from the Department of Provincial Administration arrested Zhu Zhishan, who used the Thai name Suchat Surachai, at a home in a housing estate in Bang Lamung district, Chonburi, on Sunday (Sept 13).
The arrest was made under a Pattaya Provincial Court warrant concerning false declarations to government officials in connection with obtaining a Thai identity card.
Investigators said Zhu was wanted over an alleged intentional killing in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, China. Chinese authorities issued an arrest warrant on January 9, 1990, while an Interpol Red Notice, numbered A-6202/7-2020, was issued in 2020.
Police said Zhu had fled China through Myanmar before crossing into Thailand.
The investigation found that in 2001, he allegedly assumed the identity of a Karen person and obtained a Thai identity card in Phop Phra district, Tak, under the name Suchat Surachai. He allegedly paid THB50,000 to arrange the documents.
Police said he subsequently used the Thai identity to operate tourism-related businesses in Pattaya. He was listed as the owner of five companies with combined registered capital exceeding THB89 million, covering hotels, restaurants, cafés and other tourism services.
Investigators described his business activities in Pattaya as spanning more than 30 years.
Police also examined Zhu’s civil-registration history.
According to the account, he registered his marriage to Yunhua Ren in Bang Lamung district on November 12, 1990. The couple have 12-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, whose birth registrations recorded them as Thai nationals.
Investigators identified eight changes to his household registration over 13 years. In 2003, he transferred his registration from Phop Phra district in Tak to Bang Lamung, followed by seven further changes within Bang Lamung.
The most recent transfer, on April 22, 2016, placed him at his current address in Nong Prue subdistrict, matching the address on his Thai identity card.
The investigation was triggered when Zhu applied for a visa to travel to China, police said.
Chinese authorities noticed irregularities because he had previously been registered as a Chinese citizen but was presenting himself as a Thai national.
Further checks linked the Thai identity of Suchat Surachai to Zhu and the outstanding murder case. The Chinese embassy subsequently contacted Thai authorities to request an urgent investigation.
During a search of the suspect’s home, situated on a plot of approximately 360 square metres, officers discovered a large concealed underground room at the rear of the property.
Police said a former swimming pool had been converted into the room, which was used to store numerous antiques and Buddhist amulets. The items were seized for examination.
Officers also seized title deeds covering 11 plots of land totalling 1.6 hectares, described as occupying prime locations in central Pattaya, along with more than six cars.
Police put the combined value of the assets seized at nearly THB100 million.
Narucha Kosacivilize, director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, said the operation involved cooperation between Thai and Chinese authorities.
China had forwarded information through Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, requesting checks on Zhu’s identity and arrangements for his return as the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.
Narucha said authorities were also pursuing the revocation of the Thai citizenship recorded for Zhu and his two children.
He said officials were preparing to apply the Deportation Act 1956, alongside the Prime Minister’s Office Regulation on Deportation 2026, which took effect on August 28, 2026, as part of stronger enforcement against foreign nationals who commit offences in Thailand.
The department will expand its investigation into how Zhu obtained his Thai identity card. A fact-finding committee will examine the process in Phop Phra district, including the involvement of any officials or intermediaries.
Narucha said preliminary checks had identified other foreign nationals suspected of using similar arrangements. The Interior Ministry would work with the Royal Thai Police to investigate those cases and take legal action.
Samran said checks indicated that the Chinese murder case, dating back 36 years, had not become time-barred.
Thai authorities would gather evidence and pursue offences committed in Thailand before returning Zhu to China for legal proceedings, he said. Investigators would also examine anyone involved in the alleged identity fraud and continue asset-related inquiries.
During questioning, Zhu told police that he had obtained a Thai identity card in Phop Phra at a cost of approximately THB50,000.
Investigators will establish who received the money, whether any officials or other individuals were involved, and whether the same process was used to obtain documents for other people.
Samran said the Royal Thai Police would continue operations against nominee networks, having already conducted more than 10 phases of enforcement.
He said the aim was to recover assets and protect Thailand’s interests, while urging anyone with information about suspected offences involving foreign nationals to contact the Royal Thai Police. - The Nation/ANN
