PATTAYA, THAILAND – A Turkish engineer wanted internationally over a deadly building collapse was arrested in the resort city while reportedly living quietly in a luxury apartment.
Many dead under the rubble
In February, the ground in the Turkish province of Adana shook with a powerful magnitude of 7.7. One residential building could not withstand the tremors and collapsed like a house of cards. Many residents died or suffered severe injuries.
Investigators quickly determined that substandard construction material was partly responsible for the disaster. As the supervising engineer, Abdullah Ayababa came under scrutiny from the judiciary. Instead of facing the allegations, the 76-year-old fled to Southeast Asia.
Flight to a holiday paradise
The Thai Immigration Bureau traced the man to an upscale residential complex in Jomtien, a district of Pattaya. Officers from Chon Buri moved in and arrested the engineer. He had apparently been living there without interference despite his alleged role in the tragedy.
A red notice from Interpol had already been issued for the Turkish national. Authorities in his home country accused him of being directly responsible for the deaths and injuries caused by the collapse. He now faced deportation to Turkey and a trial on charges of negligent homicide.
Thailand’s hunt for gangsters
The operation in Pattaya was described as part of a broader series of successful investigations. The Thai police had recently intensified their crackdown on international criminals. Only a few days earlier, officers in Phuket had arrested a Swedish national wanted for murder and drug trafficking.
A fraud suspect from South Korea was also caught by investigators. He was alleged to have defrauded more than 9,000 victims out of large sums of money. Police in Pathum Thani ended what was described as the gang leader’s criminal operation after lengthy inquiries.
No hiding place for criminals
Murder suspects from France and investment fraudsters from Russia were among those detained in the kingdom, according to officials. Even a human trafficker from Uzbekistan was discovered in Pattaya, accused of luring women into prostitution and hiding from justice for months.
The authorities stated that Thailand was no longer a safe haven for the underworld. Anyone wanted internationally had to expect a knock on the door from the police at any time. For Abdullah Ayababa, the flight ended behind Thai bars as he awaited his return to Turkey.