Chinese Fugitive Caught in Bangkok After 20 Years on the Run
BANGKOK, April 6, 2025 — Thai police have arrested Zhang Lao Er, a 52-year-old Chinese national and owner of a popular mala restaurant in Bangkok, for allegedly shooting a fellow Chinese citizen in 2003. The arrest ends more than two decades of evasion.
Under the direction of Police Major General Witaya Sriprasertphap, officers apprehended Zhang in Phasi Charoen district on April 5. He was wanted under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on May 17, 2024, for assault causing injury in a case originally filed in Shantou, Guangdong province.
A Life on the Run
Zhang reportedly fled China after shooting a man named Zhou, seriously injuring him during a dispute. He spent the next 20 years moving between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, where he eventually settled under a false Vietnamese identity with the alias Ly Thanh.
Living with his girlfriend Deng, Zhang established a successful mala hotpot restaurant and resided in a luxurious gated community along Ratchaphruek Road. Police also found a Thai driver’s license in his possession, further confirming efforts to conceal his true identity.
International Cooperation Leads to Capture
The arrest was made following a formal request from Chinese authorities, who asked Thai officials to assist in locating and apprehending Zhang. After verifying his identity through investigations and surveillance, police moved in and made the arrest.
During interrogation, Zhang admitted to the shooting, and extradition proceedings to return him to China are now underway.
Other International Arrests in Thailand
Zhang’s case is the latest in a series of high-profile arrests of foreign fugitives hiding in Thailand. In a similar case, an Israeli national, identified only as “T”, was arrested in Pattaya on February 3 after being linked to a violent assault in Tel Aviv and overstaying his visa. He was flagged by Interpol Red Notice and is also pending deportation.
Thai immigration and police authorities continue to coordinate with international agencies to ensure the kingdom is not used as a haven for fugitives.
