A French national has been arrested in Bangkok on suspicion of planning to kidnap a 7-year-old girl to demand a ransom of more than 200 million baht from the child’s mother.

Thai police have announced the arrest of a 45-year-old French woman, Sandra Christine Marie Diersten, on suspicion of leading a group of foreigners in a plot to rob and kidnap the 7-year-old daughter of a successful Thai businesswoman, the Khaosod daily reported.

The arrest comes after Mrs Issari Suvunnavid, CEO of Knightsbridge Bloodstock and KXCO, which specialises in blockchain technology, filed a police report. The businesswoman said a gang of foreigners planned to kidnap her daughter and demand a ransom of more than 200 million baht.

According to information obtained by police, one member of the plot had a change of heart and decided to warn Suvunnavid, allowing police to intervene before the criminals realised the kidnapping plan.

Police have identified Dirsten as the leader of the group and obtained an arrest warrant for a French woman who was detained at a hotel in Bangkok’s Silom district on 18 April 2024.

During her arrest, Dirsten tried to confuse police officers by speaking only French. However, police officers could communicate with the suspect in English, but Dirsten eventually had to surrender.

Kirsten denied the charges, saying she was a legitimate businesswoman tricked into investing money in a deal with her husband, Suvunnavid, an Australian citizen. The woman claimed she lost Bt185 million on that investment. Kirsten also claimed she was set up to be arrested and prevented from recovering the investment.

Despite the foreign woman’s claims, police charged Dirsten with participating in a secret society, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to 140,000 baht. If the Frenchwoman is found to be the group’s leader, Dirsten faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht.

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