Pattaya: A key suspect in the torture and killing of a South Korean college student in Cambodia has been apprehended in Thailand, authorities said Thursday. The 42-year-old Chinese national, surnamed Ham, was detained in a raid Wednesday at his hideout in Pattaya. The operation was a joint effort involving South Korea's justice ministry, National Police Agency, National Intelligence Service, and the Thai authorities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ham is suspected of leading the scam ring that lured a South Korean college student to Cambodia and tortured him to death in August last year. The case sparked outrage in South Korea and led to a government-wide campaign to tackle growing crimes against its nationals in the Southeast Asian nation. This campaign included the mass repatriation in October of 64 suspects allegedly involved in similar crimes.

The justice ministry said it will seek the suspect's extradition to South Korea with the help of the Thai government.