California ex-con tech entrepreneur arrested in Thai kidnap case

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL | The Associated Press

BANGKOK  — Police in Thailand said Thursday they were pursuing more suspects in the kidnapping of a Taiwanese businessman in which an American entrepreneur with a criminal past and two other men have been arrested. The case involves a business dispute over the purchase of nitrile gloves — critical personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.

Louis William Ziskin, the CEO of a Los Angeles-based tech company, and Jeremy Hughes Manchester, identified as a former U.S. Marine, were arrested on Saturday, along with a Thai man. The five additional suspects are from the U.S. and Israel, said police Col. Netiwit Thanasithnitikul of Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division.

Ziskin and Manchester have denied the charges, which include kidnapping, attempted murder, assault and being part of a…